habit, custom
habit 和 custom 两者均可表示“习惯”,它们的区别是:
1. habit 通常指一个人长时间养成的自然“习惯”,一旦养成了这种 habit 之后,人便会自然而然甚至是情不自禁地去做。如:
Nail-biting is one of her bad habits.
He has a habit of coughing before he speaks.
2. custom 则指一个民族或一个社会在发展过程中长期沿袭下来的礼节、风俗和习惯。如:
Eating hot dogs is an American custom.
The Japanese customs are different from the Chinese ones.
注:custom 有时也可表示个人的习惯,侧重指一种有规律的行为,此时也可用 habit。如:
It’s my custom/habit to get up early every morning.