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Hello!
大家好!
This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about two common synonyms, or words that have similar meanings, “abnormal” and “irregular.”
本周《名师答疑》，我们回答一个关于两个常见同义词的问题，同义词就是意思相似的词，即abnormal和irregular。
Hi VOA Learning English, I am Riya from China.
你好，美国之音英语学习栏目，我是来自中国的日雅。
I wish to know the difference between the words “abnormal” and “irregular.”
我想知道abnormal和irregular两个词的区别。
Is there any other word that has a similar meaning of irregular?
还有没有其他和irregular意思相似的词？
Thanks, Riya.
谢谢，日雅。
Thank you, Riya, for this great question.
日雅，谢谢你提出这个很棒的问题。
While “abnormal” and “irregular” are often used in similar situations, there are some notable differences.
虽然abnormal和irregular经常用于类似的情境，但这两个词也有一些显著的区别。
Let’s consider “abnormal” first.
让我们先来看abnormal。
“Abnormal” is an adjective meaning not normal, usual, or average.
这是一个形容词，意思是不正常的、不普通的、不一般的。
It suggests that something is troublesome or a problem.
它表示某事很麻烦或有问题。
For example: His blood tests showed an abnormal level of T cells.
例如：他的血液测试显示T细胞水平异常。
The veterinarian said a viral infection caused the marmot’s abnormal behavior.
兽医说，病毒感染导致了土拨鼠的异常行为。
“Normal” is often used in describing growth or behavior.
normal通常用来描述成长或行为。
These are processes that are not the same all of the time, but experience and knowledge form our understanding of what they are.
这些过程并不总是相同的，但通过经验和知识我们可以理解这些过程是什么样的。
“Abnormal” is often used to describe what is outside our experience of what “normal” is.
abnormal经常用来描述和我们经验中“正常的”过程不一样的情况。
Let’s move on to “irregular.”
让我们继续讲irregular。
As an adjective, “irregular” has several different meanings.
作为形容词，irregular有几种不同的意思。
The first describes something that does not happen at regular, predictable times.
第一个意思指一些事情不在常规的、可预测的时间发生。
It can describe an activity that happens for different lengths of time or that happens once in a while.
可以描述某个活动持续的时长不一样，或者偶尔发生。
Amanda’s work schedule was very irregular.
阿曼达的工作日程非常不规律。
Sometimes she worked nights; other times she worked during the day.
她有时晚上工作，有时白天工作。
The second meaning describes appearance that is not even, straight, or smooth.
irregular第二个意思是指某物的外观不均匀、不直或不光滑。
It can also describe something that does not form a regular pattern.
也可以描述某物没有规则的形状。
The coast of the state is quite irregular with its rocky hills.
该州的海岸线非常不规则，遍布岩石丘陵。
A third meaning has to do with observing regular rules, laws or behavior.
第三个意思与遵守规则、法律或行为有关。
The bank failed because of irregular investment practices.
这家银行因为不规范的投资行为而倒闭。
In English grammar, there are “irregular” action words, or verbs.
在英语语法中，有“不规则”的动作词，即不规则的动词。
In many languages, verbs have different endings to agree with number or tense.
在许多语言中，动词的结尾不同，因为要与单复数或时态符合。
For example, the verb “eat” is an irregular verb.
例如，动词eat是一个不规则动词。
The past tense is not “eated,” it is “ate.” The past participle is “eaten.”
过去时不是eated，而是ate。过去分词是eaten。
Other words can also have “irregular” differences from the usual patterns of grammar.
其他单词也可能与通常的语法规律相比，有“不规则”的变化。
“Irregular” can be a noun, too.
irregular也可以是名词。
It can describe a person belonging to a military force that is outside of the national armed forces of a country.
指的是属于某种军事力量，但不属于国家武装力量的人。
Such forces usually do not have the same command structure and are often called paramilitary forces.
这种部队通常没有相同的指挥结构，通常被称为准军事部队。
“Irregular” also can mean a piece of clothing that is a little damaged, or not exactly perfect, and is sold in some stores at a lower price than normal.
irregular也可以指衣服有点破损，或者不是很完美，在一些商店里以比正常价格低的价格出售。
So, while these two words are often used as synonyms, “irregular” has more meanings and is often used as both an adjective and a noun.
因此，虽然abnormal和irregular经常用作同义词，但irregular有更多的含义，经常用作形容词和名词。
And it might be a better word choice in some situations depending on what you want to say.
在某些情况下，看你想表达什么意思，irregular可能是一个更好的选择。
Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Riya.
请让我们知道这些解释和例子是否对你有帮助，日雅。
And that’s Ask a Teacher.
以上就是《名师答疑》。
I’m Faith Pirlo.
我是费思·皮尔洛。
