要說“發燒友”就得先從“發燒”說起。“這個孩子發高燒而且說胡話。”應該任何翻譯呢？是翻譯成“The child had a high fever and talked nonsense.”嗎？“to talk nonsense”是胡說八道的意思，因發高燒而說胡話是指在神志不清的情況下語無倫次地說話，英語更適宜翻譯為“to be delirious”.因此可以這樣翻譯“ The child had a high fever and became delirious. ”或“The child became delirious with a high fever.”例如“ During the fever, the child became delirious and said some strange things.”（這個孩子在發高燒時說胡話，講了一些奇怪的事。）

“發燒”在漢語里第一個意思是“超過正常體溫”。英語可以譯為“ to have/run a fever”或“ to have/run a temperature”。例如“ If you get/are running a temperature, you should stay in bed.”（如果你發燒就應該臥床休息。）

“發燒”的第二個意思是“狂熱愛好或迷戀音樂或某些高科技產品”。英語可以翻譯為“ to be infatuated with”或“ to be obsessed with”。例如“ The student is infatuated with the Web.”（這個學生對網絡發燒。） “The young man is obsessed with cars. ”（這個青年對汽車十分著迷。）

而“發燒友“則指“狂熱愛好或迷戀音樂或某些高科技產品的人”。英語可以這樣表達如enthusiast、zealot、–facnier、–phile” 或–manic。這里有一些例子：“These car–fanciers have recently organized a club.”（這些汽車發燒友最近組織了一俱樂部。） “Most classic music–manics are keen on Mozart.”（大多數古典音樂發燒友都喜歡莫扎特的作品。） “As an audio fancier, he has the experience of working in a recording studio.”（作為音響發燒友，他具有在錄音棚里工作的經歷。） “I’ve been a web zealot for about seven years.”（我當網絡發燒友大約有七年了。）