VOA名师答疑2023--Danger vs. Hazard

Danger vs. Hazard

Hi there! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between the words "danger" and "hazard."

Question:

Hello friends,

I'm Roberto, and I live in São Paulo, Brazil. I have a question. What's the difference between "danger" and "hazard"? Thank you.

Answer

Thanks for your question, Roberto. Both "danger" and "hazard" are nouns that can mean a dangerous or life-threatening situation. But each can refer to a more specific possibility of harm that separate meanings.

Let's start with "danger."

Danger

"Danger" has a few meanings. It can be used as a substitute for risk, for example.

Ellie's job is in danger since she protested the pay changes at her workplace.

The danger of wrecking¹ a car is greater when it begins to rain because the water spreads the oil on the roads before it washes it away.

A "danger" is something or someone that can hurt you.

The escaped prisoner was a danger to the area surrounding the prison.

Dangers usually involve immediacy.

This is different from "hazard," in which the exposure might be extremely low, but there is a higher chance of great harm or death.

Let's look more closely at "hazard" now.

Hazard

A "hazard" is a source of danger or harm to a person or environment.

Deep frying turkeys on Thanksgiving is a fire hazard.

Radiation exposure is a hazard to our health.

"Hazard" is a known threat. Yet, there is an unpredictable element to a "hazard."

Take for example a volcano. Volcanoes are a hazard to not only the people that live near them, but they are also a hazard to the environment. Volcanoes have a great possiblity of harm and the possibility of eruptions² is difficult to predict.

As a plural³ noun, "hazards" are special lights on cars that flash on and off to warn other drivers. They are used when a vehicle is either not working properly or if the road or weather conditions are hazardous⁴.

Drivers often turn on their hazards when there is thick fog to make it easier for other drivers to see them.

Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Roberto.

Do you have a question about American English? Send us an email at [email protected].

And that's Ask a Teacher.

Words in This Story

exposure – n. the fact or condition of being affected⁵ by something or experiencing something

flash – n. a sudden burst of light

1 wrecking   

破坏

参考例句：

• He teed off on his son for wrecking the car. 他严厉训斥他儿子毁坏了汽车。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Instead of wrecking the valley, the waters are put to use making electricity. 现在河水不但不在流域内肆疟，反而被人们用来生产电力。 来自辞典例句

2 eruptions   

n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year. 今年火山爆发了好几次。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Over 200 people have been killed by volcanic eruptions. 火山喷发已导致200多人丧生。 来自辞典例句

3 plural   

n.复数；复数形式；adj.复数的

参考例句：

• Most plural nouns in English end in's '.英语的复数名词多以s结尾。
• Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。

4 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。