famous

Compared meaning: well known, famous (adjective).

比较义项：著名的，广为人知的（形容词）。

• famous 本词

  The most common, neutral word for well known; it can describe someone known for good or bad reasons, and fits everyday, informal speech.

  语气最普通、最中性的词，指“广为人知”，既可以指因好事出名，也可以指因坏事出名，日常口语中最常用。

  The restaurant became famous for its incredibly slow service, not its food.

  这家餐厅因上菜极慢而出名，而不是因为菜好吃。

• legendary

  The strongest word here; suggests a reputation that has grown over time into something almost mythical, often built through stories people tell each other.

  语气最强的词，指名声随着时间流传，几乎带有传奇、神话色彩，通常是通过人们口耳相传的故事建立起来的。

  Grandpa told us about the legendary storm that flooded the whole valley in 1950.

  爷爷给我们讲了1950年那场传奇般的、淹没整个山谷的暴风雨。

• noted

  A more formal word, usually followed by 'for', used when someone is recognized and respected for a particular skill or achievement, not just widely known.

  语气比较正式的词，通常后接“for”，指某人因某项具体的技能或成就而受到认可和尊重，而不只是“广为人知”。

  The professor is noted for her research on climate change, though she rarely appears in the media.

  这位教授因气候变化研究而知名，尽管她很少出现在媒体上。

• celebrated

  Emphasizes public praise and honor, often in formal or artistic contexts; used for people or works that are widely admired and openly celebrated by others.

  强调受到公开的赞扬和推崇，常用于正式或艺术类语境，指广受赞赏、被公开表彰的人或作品。

  The celebrated novelist won three major literary awards before she turned forty.

  这位备受推崇的小说家在四十岁之前就获得了三项重要的文学奖项。

Famous, legendary, noted, and celebrated all mean well known. Famous is the most common word. Legendary is the strongest, built over time through stories. Noted is formal, for a specific skill. Celebrated means widely praised in art. Noted and celebrated can also be verbs too.

这几个词都可表示“有名、知名”，但语气和使用场合有别：famous 最常用、最中性，好坏皆可；legendary 语气最强，近乎“传奇”色彩，通常经年累月靠口耳相传的故事建立起来；noted 语气正式，强调因某项具体成就或技能而受到认可和尊重；celebrated 强调受到公开的赞扬与推崇，常用于正式或艺术类语境。这里不比较 noted 作动词“记录、指出”的用法，也不比较 celebrated 作动词“庆祝（某个事件）”的用法。