popular

Compared meaning: liked or enjoyed by people (adjective).

比较义项：流行的，受欢迎的（形容词）。

• hot

  Informal way to say something is currently trendy or fashionable; used for topics, styles, or products becoming popular right now, often in casual speech.

  非正式说法，表示某事物目前很时髦、很流行；常用于话题、风格或产品，强调当下的流行趋势，多用于口语。

  That new phone is hot right now, everyone wants one.

  那部新手机现在很热门，人人都想要。

• popular 本词

  Describes something liked or enjoyed by many people, without implying it is currently trendy; used broadly for the lasting popularity of people, places, or things.

  表示被很多人喜欢，不强调当下是否时髦；可广泛用于人、地点或事物的持久受欢迎程度。

  The teacher is popular with students because she explains things clearly.

  这位老师很受学生欢迎，因为她讲解得很清楚。

• favorite

  Marks the one most liked among several choices, often used with a possessive like my or her; expresses personal preference rather than general popularity.

  表示在若干选择中最受喜爱的那一个，常与物主代词（my、her）连用，强调个人偏好而非大众程度。

  Chocolate cake is my favorite dessert at every birthday party.

  巧克力蛋糕是我每次生日派对上最喜欢的甜点。

Hot, popular, and favorite all mean liked or enjoyed. Hot is informal, describing something trendy now. Popular means liked by many people, without implying it is trendy. Favorite marks what someone likes best, with 'my' or 'her'. Hot's other meaning, 'high temperature', is not compared.

这三个词都能表示“受欢迎、被喜爱”，但侧重点不同：hot 强调事物当下正流行、时髦，语气随意，多用于口语；popular 表示被很多人普遍喜欢，不限于当下是否时髦；favorite 强调在若干选项中个人最偏爱的那一个，常与物主代词连用。这里不比较 hot 的“热的（温度）”这一义项。