An epigram is a very short piece of writing — often one or two lines — that says something sharp, clever, or funny. It feels like a small dart: quick, pointed, and easy to remember.

epigram是 a very short piece of writing一段很短的文字 — often one or two lines常常只有一兩行 — that says something sharp, clever, or funny講出尖銳、聰明或好笑的話。It feels like a small dart感覺就像一支小飛鏢: quick快, pointed準, and easy to remember又好記。

Writers use epigrams as jokes, as gentle insults, or as a neat way to hold a big idea. In older times an epigram was also a short poem, sometimes carved as words on a stone or a gift; that older “written-on-something” sense is where the word began.

Writers use epigrams作家會用epigram as jokes當笑話, as gentle insults當溫和的挖苦, or as a neat way to hold a big idea或用來俐落地裝下一個大概念。In older times在較早的年代, an epigram was also a short poem epigram也曾經是一種短詩, sometimes carved as words on a stone or a gift有時候會刻在石頭或禮物上; that older “written-on-something” sense那個較早「刻在東西上」的意思 is where the word began就是這個字的起源。

Today you will hear it in literature class more than in the street; friends are more likely to say “a witty line” or “a one-liner.” Though actually, a proverb (“look before you leap”) is not quite an epigram. A proverb is common wisdom, worn smooth by many mouths. An epigram usually has a writer’s twist or sting — a surprise at the end.

Today今天, you will hear it in literature class more than in the street你在文學課上聽到這個字的機會比在路上多; friends are more likely to say “a witty line” or “a one-liner.”朋友之間比較會說「a witty line」或「a one-liner」。Though actually不過, a proverb像諺語 (“look before you leap”像look before you leap這句) is not quite an epigram其實不算epigram。A proverb is common wisdom諺語是眾人共有的智慧, worn smooth by many mouths被很多人的嘴磨得很滑順。An epigram usually has a writer's twist or sting而epigram通常帶有作者自己的轉折或刺 — a surprise at the end結尾有個意外。