A backslash is the mark \ — a thin line that leans back, the other way from the usual slash /. In ordinary English you almost never need it.

A backslash is the mark \「backslash反斜線」就是這個符號\，a thin line that leans back一條往後傾的細線，the other way from the usual slash /跟平常的slash斜線/方向相反。In ordinary English在一般英文裡，you almost never need it你幾乎用不到它

Writers use the forward slash in dates, fractions, and “and/or.” The backslash belongs to computers: Windows file paths often use it to separate folder names, and some kinds of code use it as a special signal (for example, to say “the next mark is special”). People mix the two marks constantly, and keyboards do not help — they sit near each other.

Writers use the forward slash in dates, fractions, and and/or大家會在日期、分數，和「and/or」裡用正斜線。The backslash belongs to computers反斜線則是屬於電腦的：Windows file paths often use it to separate folder namesWindows的檔案路徑常用它來分隔資料夾名稱，and some kinds of code use it as a special signal有些程式碼也用它當特殊記號，for example, to say the next mark is special比如說「下一個符號有特殊意義」。People mix the two marks constantly大家常常把這兩個符號搞混，and keyboards do not help鍵盤也幫不上忙——they sit near each other因為它們的位置就在附近

The name is a small picture: think of a standing bar |. If it topples “back” against the way we write (left to right), you get \; if it topples forward, you get /. (If you write the marks by hand from the top down, the hand actually moves the other way — which is why the names feel slightly upside-down once you think about it.) Unicode’s official name for \ is “reverse solidus,” but nobody in class needs that; “backslash” is the word they will hear.

The name is a small picture這個名字背後有個小畫面：think of a standing bar |想像一根直立的棒子|。If it topples back against the way we write (left to right)如果它往我們書寫方向（由左到右）的反方向倒下，you get \就變成\；if it topples forward如果往前倒，you get /就變成/。If you write the marks by hand from the top down如果你用手從上往下寫這些符號，the hand actually moves the other way手其實是往另一個方向動——which is why the names feel slightly upside-down once you think about it這就是為什麼你仔細想想會覺得這些名字有點顛倒。Unicode's official name for backslash is reverse solidusUnicode對\的正式名稱是「reverse solidus」，but nobody in class needs that但課堂上沒人需要用到那個名字：backslash is the word they will hear「backslash」才是他們會聽到的字