VOA慢速英语2021--Differences between ‘Security’ and ‘Safety’

This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Victor, who is from Brazil.

Question:

Hello, my name is Victor,

Can you talk about the use of the words security¹ and safety? What's the difference between these two words?

Best regards

Answer:

Dear Victor,

Thank you for your email.

While the words "security" and "safety" are nouns² with similar meanings, they are used differently.

"Security" often has to do with a group's efforts to protect its members from harm. "Safety" most often relates to a personal feeling of being free from harm or danger. Security seems to define³ efforts and measures that are outside of an individual, while safety is closer to an inner⁴ feeling.

Here is a simple discussion⁵ to show the difference:

Did you think about safety when you moved to that neighborhood?

Yes, I did. Luckily, there is a security guard at the front door of the apartment.

In English, you may hear the word "security" used to describe people with the job of protecting a place. It is also used to describe efforts to protect the country.

The U.S. has the Department of Homeland Security so that its citizens can feel safe.

You may see some government buildings with "high-security" measures to stop people from entering. Individuals, organizations, and governments value "cybersecurity" to stop people from causing harm to computers and equipment through the internet. Here is one example:

Cybersecurity helps stop enemies from stealing private information.

We would not say "cybersafety" when talking about measures to protect the nation's computer systems. Cybersecurity, instead, describes the effort to stop others from attacking.

Here is another example. In factories or workshops, workers need to wear face coverings or other protection⁶ like safety glasses for their eyes. But, such glasses are not called "security glasses." That is because they relate to one's personal safety: They protect you from dangers like dust, viruses⁷, flying objects or chemicals.

I need to wear a face covering for my safety, to avoid breathing in these chemicals.

This person wants to be free from harm, so she used her safety mask. As a result, she follows job safety measures.

Thank you again for the question, Victor.

And to our listeners⁸ everywhere, what question do you have about American English? Send us an email at [email protected].

And that's Ask a Teacher!

I'm Armen Kassabian.

1 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

2 nouns   

n.名词；名词( noun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns. 法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Nouns join to form compounds. 名词和名词结合构成复合词。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 define   

vt.解释，下定义，阐述，限定，规定

参考例句：

• Please define the words.请解释这些字的意义。
• It's hard to define exactly what has changed.很难解释清楚到底发生了什么变化。

4 inner   

adj.内部的，里面的；内在的，内心的；精神的

参考例句：

• The label is on the inner side of the box.标签贴在盒子内侧。
• Other people seek the mountains for renewal of their inner lives.另一些人到深山中去，寻求新的精神生活。

5 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

6 protection   

n.保护，防卫，保护制度

参考例句：

• The protection of the country is the duty of everyone.保卫国家是每个人的责任。
• The young in our society need care and protection.我们社会的年轻人需要关怀和照顾。

7 viruses   

n. 病毒

参考例句：

• This is a new kind of viruses in the computer. 这是一种新的电脑病毒。
• All bacteria are larger than viruses. 所有细菌都比病毒大。

8 listeners   

n.倾听者，收听者( listener的名词复数 )；听众

参考例句：

• the demographics of radio listeners 电台听众统计数据
• The singer's high notes jarred on the ears of her listeners. 那位歌手的高音让听众们觉得刺耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》