folk
folk — noun
1. ordinary people thought of as a group, especially those who share a particular b
ordinary people thought of as a group, especially those who share a particular background, way of life, or set of beliefs
The local folk gather at the market every Saturday morning.
local folk: people from a particular area
Country folk often know the best spots for wild mushrooms.
country folk: people living in rural areas
The islanders are friendly folk who welcome visitors warmly.
Town folk and country folk sometimes have very different daily habits.
Folk around here still make their own bread and cheese.
- people
neutral and more common; 'folk' feels warmer and more personal
- community
focuses on shared location rather than shared background
- population
statistical or formal; no personal warmth
- elite
refers to a small, powerful group at the top of society
文法句型
folk + plural verb
用法筆記
Always used as a plural noun in this sense. You say 'these folk are...' not 'this folk is.'. More informal and warmer than 'people'.
常見錯誤
2. a friendly way to address or refer to two or more people when speaking informall
a friendly way to address or refer to two or more people when speaking informally
Right, folks, let's get started with the meeting.
folks as direct address at the start of a sentence
Thanks for coming, folks — we really appreciate your support.
Alright folks, time to pack up and head home.
Listen up, folks, there has been a change of plan.
文法句型
folks used as direct address
用法筆記
Used mainly as a vocative (direct address) in spoken English. Avoid in formal letters or speeches — use 'everyone' or 'ladies and gentlemen' instead.
常見錯誤
3. a person's parents or family, used in an affectionate, informal way
a person's parents or family, used in an affectionate, informal way
Indra is spending the weekend with her folks in Taichung.
her folks: someone's parents
My folks never let me stay out past ten when I was a teenager.
Reuben's folks run a small noodle shop near the train station.
I need to call my folks and let them know I arrived safely.
Apinya's folks still live in the same house where she grew up.
文法句型
possessive + folks
用法筆記
Always 'folks' (plural) in this sense. 'My folk' is incorrect. Used to refer to parents, not usually to in-laws unless you are close to them.
常見錯誤
4. a style of music rooted in the life and traditions of everyday people from a spe
a style of music rooted in the life and traditions of everyday people from a specific community or nation, typically with simple melodies and acoustic instruments
Élise loves listening to Irish folk while she cooks dinner.
folk as uncountable noun: Irish folk
The café hosts a folk night every Tuesday with local musicians.
folk night: regular event featuring folk music
Daichi bought a collection of Japanese folk songs on CD.
Iris learned to play the guitar so she could join a folk band.
The festival features folk from all over Southeast Asia.
文法句型
folk as a music genre (no article)
用法筆記
Used as an uncountable noun: 'I like folk' = 'I like folk music'. Do not say 'a folk' to mean a piece of folk music — say 'a folk song' instead.
常見錯誤
folk — adjective
1. relating to the traditional customs, stories, beliefs, and art of a community, p
relating to the traditional customs, stories, beliefs, and art of a community, passed down from parents to children over many generations
Reuben is studying folk tales from West Africa for his class.
folk tales: traditional stories passed down orally
The museum has a large collection of folk art from rural Japan.
Folk wisdom says you should never build a house facing north.
The dancers wear colourful folk costumes during the festival.
Lakshmi collects folk pottery made by artisans in remote villages.
- traditional
broader meaning; 'folk' specifically implies origins among ordinary people
- customary
more formal; emphasises established habits rather than generational tradition
文法句型
folk + noun (tale, tradition, custom, wisdom, dance)
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive). You cannot say 'This dance is folk' — instead say 'This is a folk dance.'
常見錯誤
2. describing a type of art, craft, or music created by ordinary people, not by pro
describing a type of art, craft, or music created by ordinary people, not by professionally trained artists, that reflects their daily lives and feelings
Paloma's grandmother taught her the art of traditional folk embroidery.
folk embroidery: needlework done by untrained local craftswomen
The gallery is showing Mexican folk paintings from the 19th century.
Folk crafts like basket weaving are becoming popular again.
Tanvi collects folk pottery from different regions of India.
The museum held a show of folk art created by village women.
- traditional
broader, less specific to art
- vernacular
more academic; describes locally rooted, non-academic styles
- grassroots
focuses on the community origin rather than the artistic style
文法句型
folk + art / craft / painting / pottery / music
用法筆記
Very common before 'art' and 'craft'. Unlike sense 1 (which covers tales, wisdom, customs), this sense strongly focuses on handmade objects and visual art made by everyday people.