英語のよくある間違い：「funとfunny」「winとbeat」など似ているけど違う単語の使い方

In English, many words look or sound similar, but have different meanings.
Some of these are commonly confused by learners.

In this post, we’ll look at four common word pairs:

1. fun / funny

2. remember / remind

3. win / beat

4. hard / hardly

We’ll explain the differences, show example sentences, and help you avoid common mistakes.

1. Fun vs Funny

These two words are very common, and learners often mix them up.

• Fun = something that is enjoyable, it makes you happy

• Funny = something that makes you laugh, it’s comedy (haha!)

Examples:

• “The party was really fun.” (It was enjoyable)

• “That comedian is really funny!” (He made me laugh)

Common mistake:

✘ “He makes me laugh a lot - he is fun.”

✔ “He makes me laugh a lot - he is funny.”

Cultural Tip:

Remember that ‘fun’ is an adjective AND a noun.
Using it as a noun (e.g. “The party was a lot of fun”) is more common with older British people, whereas younger people normally use it as an adjective (e.g. “The party was very fun”).
Both are correct.

2. Remember vs Remind

These verbs are both connected to memory, but we use them differently.

• Remember = your own memory brings back something, you think about something again

• Remind = something (or someone) helps you to remember

Examples:

• “I remembered to lock the door.” (I didn’t forget)

• “Can you remind me to send the email?” (Please help me remember)

Common mistake:

✘ “I reminded to buy milk.”

✔ “I remembered to buy milk.”

✔ “She reminded me to buy milk.”

Grammar Tip:

• remember + to + verb

• remind + person + to + verb

3. Win vs Beat

These two verbs are often confused, especially in sports and games.

• Win = to be the best or the first - victory!

• Beat = to defeat someone (needs an object)

Examples:

• “I won the game.”

• “I beat my brother at chess.”

Common mistake:

✘ “I won you.” (you are not a game or a prize)

✔ “I beat you.” (I got more points than you)

✔ “I won a prize.” (I received a gift after the game)

Grammar Tip:

• win + the game / match / prize

• beat + a person / team

4. Hard vs Hardly

These two words look similar, but the meaning is completely different.

• Hard = with effort or difficulty (adjective or adverb)

• Hardly = almost/close to not (negative adverb)

Examples:

• “She studies hard.” (she studies a lot, and tries to do well, she uses effort)

• “He hardly studies.” (he almost never studies - he is lazy)

Common mistake:

✘ “He works hardly.”

✔ “He works hard.”

Cultural Note:

In British English, “hardly” can sometimes sound more formal or dramatic, especially in writing or when used in expressions like:

• “I could hardly believe it.”

• “There’s hardly a person here.”

These uses might sound old-fashioned in some American contexts, where people might say:

• “I almost couldn’t believe it.”

• “There’s barely anyone here.”

So while “hardly” is correct and natural in both varieties, be aware that it may feel a bit more formal or expressive in British English - especially outside of expressions like “hardly ever” or “hardly slept,” which are common.

Quick Practice

Choose the correct word for each sentence:

1. That movie wasn’t very ____. I didn’t laugh at all.

2. Please ____ me to take my umbrella.

3. She ____ the race and got a gold medal!

4. He ____ ever eats breakfast these days.

5. They ____ the other team 2-1 in the final.

Final Thoughts

Many English learners confuse these word pairs because they seem so similar. However, by learning the correct meanings and grammar patterns, you’ll sound more natural and confident.

Try using these words in your own sentences, and pay attention to how native speakers use them in TV shows, books, and conversations!

Answers:

1. funny

2. remind

3. won

4. hardly

5. beat