Officialdom is the government offices and the people who work in them, talked about as one big group. The word is not kind.

OfficialdomOfficialdom is the government offices and the people who work in them是指政府機關和在裡面工作的人, talked about as one big group被當成一整個大群體來講。The word is not kind這個字不是友善的字。

You reach for it when those offices feel slow, far away, or not interested in helping ordinary people — when forms bounce you from desk to desk, or a plan sits in a department for months. It names the whole world of officials, not one person.

You reach for it當你會用到這個字 when those offices feel slow, far away, or not interested in helping ordinary people當那些機關讓人覺得慢、遙遠，或不想幫一般人的忙 — when forms bounce you from desk to desk像表格被踢來踢去, or a plan sits in a department for months或一個計畫在某個部門一放就是好幾個月。It names the whole world of officials它指的是整個官員的世界, not one person不是某一個人。

Newspapers like it in complaints: officialdom is blocking the idea, officialdom will not listen. You will hear it more in writing than in easy chat.

Newspapers like it in complaints報紙在抱怨的時候喜歡用它：officialdom is blocking the ideaofficialdom is blocking the idea（官僚體系擋著這個提案）, officialdom will not listenofficialdom will not listen（官僚體系不肯聽）。You will hear it more in writing than in easy chat你在文字裡聽到它的機會，比在輕鬆聊天裡多。

Though actually, it does not always mean the people themselves are cruel; often it just means the system feels heavy and hard to move.

Though actually不過其實, it does not always mean the people themselves are cruel它不一定是說那些人本身很殘忍; often it just means the system feels heavy and hard to move常常只是說整個體制讓人覺得沉重、難以推動。