If someone or something is impaled, a sharp pointed object goes through them — a spike, a spear, a fence post, a metal rod. The picture is always the same: a point goes in, and often comes out the other side.

If someone or something is impaled如果有人或某個東西被impale，a sharp pointed object goes through them一個尖銳的物體會刺穿他們——a spike, a spear, a fence post, a metal rod尖樁、長矛、籬笆柱、金屬桿。The picture is always the same畫面永遠一樣：a point goes in, and often comes out the other side尖端刺進去，常常還會從另一邊穿出來。

It is a violent, physical word. In history it names a cruel way of killing people.

It is a violent, physical word這是個暴力、具體的字。In history it names a cruel way of killing people在歷史上它指一種殘忍的殺人方式。

In modern English it is still used for accidents (“he was impaled on the railings”) and, much more lightly, for food (“impale the marshmallows on a stick”). The food use is real, but the word itself is not a joke unless you are clearly talking about fruit or snacks.

In modern English it is still used for accidents在現代英語裡，這個字還是會用在意外事故上（"he was impaled on the railings"「他被欄杆刺穿了」），and, much more lightly, for food而更輕鬆地，也用在食物上（"impale the marshmallows on a stick"「把棉花糖串在棍子上」）。The food use is real食物那種用法是真的存在，but the word itself is not a joke unless you are clearly talking about fruit or snacks但這個字本身不是個玩笑，除非你講的明顯是水果或零食。

You will also hear it in news and hospital reports. Most everyday speakers would just say “a spike went through him.” The verb is often passive: we say someone was impaled on something, more than they impaled themselves.

You will also hear it in news and hospital reports你也會在新聞和醫院報告裡聽到這個字。Most everyday speakers would just say "a spike went through him."大部分日常說話的人會直接說"a spike went through him"（一根尖樁刺穿了他）。The verb is often passive這個動詞常常用被動式：we say someone was impaled on something, more than they impaled themselves我們比較常說某人被something impaled，而不是他們自己impale了自己。