comic

Compared meaning: a performer who makes people laugh (noun).

比较义项：喜剧演员（名词）。

• comic 本词

  A less common, slightly formal or literary word for a comedy performer, often paired with "stand-up" or used in theatrical contexts; less frequent in everyday speech than "comedian".

  指喜剧演员时较不常用，语气偏正式或书面化，常与 stand-up 搭配，或用于剧场语境；在日常口语中不如 comedian 常见。

  The stand-up comic had the whole crowd laughing within minutes.

  这位单口喜剧演员几分钟内就把全场观众逗笑了。

• comedian

  The common, neutral word for anyone whose job is to make people laugh, used freely in everyday, professional and media contexts without sounding old-fashioned.

  是最常用、语气中性的说法，指以逗人发笑为职业的人，在日常、职业和媒体语境中都可以自然使用，不会显得过时。

  The comedian told jokes that made the whole audience laugh loudly.

  这位喜剧演员讲的笑话让全场观众都大声笑了起来。

Both words can mean a performer who makes people laugh. Comic is less common, slightly formal, often used in 'stand-up comic' or theater. Comedian is the everyday, neutral word used in daily life and media. Not compared: comic meaning a comic book or cartoon.

这两个词在“喜剧演员”这个意思上很接近，但语体不同：comic 较为正式或略显文学化，常见于 stand-up comic 这类搭配；comedian 是日常最常用的说法。这里不比较 comic 的另一个常见义项“连环画、漫画书”。

Compared meaning: causing laughter, funny (adjective).

比较义项：好笑的，引人发笑的（形容词）。

• amusing

  Amusing is milder than funny — it suggests something pleasant or mildly entertaining that brings a smile, not necessarily loud laughter; a neutral, slightly formal word often used in polite description.

  Amusing 语气比 funny 更温和——它形容令人愉快或略微有趣、令人微笑的事物，不一定引发大笑；是一个中性、略正式的词，常用于礼貌的描述中。

  It was an amusing little story, but not one that would make you laugh out loud.

  这是个挺有意思的小故事，但还不至于让人捧腹大笑。

• funny

  Funny is the most common, general, everyday word for anything that causes laughter, in any context or register; it is broader and can also mean 'odd' in other senses (not compared here).

  Funny 是最常见、最通用的词，用于任何引起发笑的事物，适用于各种语境和语域；该词涵盖范围更广，另外还有“奇怪的”意思（此处不比较）。

  He's always cracking funny jokes at parties, and everyone ends up laughing.

  他在聚会上总是讲些好笑的笑话，把大家都逗笑了。

• killing

  Killing is an informal, rather dated way of saying something is extremely funny or hilarious; it is normally used predicatively (something IS killing), not before a noun, and never in formal writing.

  Killing 是非正式、略显过时的说法，表示某事“笑死人的、极其好笑”；通常用作表语（某事物 is killing），很少放在名词前，也不用于正式文体。

  Her impression of the boss was absolutely killing — we couldn't stop laughing.

  她模仿老板的样子简直笑死人了——我们笑得停不下来。

• comic 本词

  Comic usually describes something intended or designed to be funny — a style, performance, or effect — rather than a spontaneous personal reaction; it is more formal or literary and common before nouns like 'effect' or 'actor'.

  Comic 通常形容“旨在逗乐”的事物——如某种风格、表演或效果，而不是自发的个人反应；语域更正式、更书面化，常用在“效果”“演员”等名词前。

  The film's comic timing kept the audience laughing throughout.

  这部电影的喜剧节奏让观众笑声不断。

All four mean funny. Amusing is mild, like a smile, not necessarily laughter. Funny is the everyday, most common word for this. Comic is more formal: a style or effect designed to amuse. Killing is informal and dated for extremely funny. Other senses not compared.

这四个词都表示“引人发笑、好笑的”，但语气强弱和语域不同：amusing 语气温和，指令人愉悦或微笑的有趣，不一定引发大笑；funny 是最常用、最口语化的说法；comic 语域较正式，多指“旨在逗乐”的风格或效果；killing 是非正式说法，表示“笑死人的、极其好笑”。这里不比较 funny 表示“奇怪的、可疑的”的义项，也不比较 comic 作名词表示“漫画、喜剧演员”的用法，以及 killing 作动词表示“杀死”的用法。