A parallelogram is a flat four-sided shape. Each side is the same length as the side across from it, and those two sides run in the same direction — they would never meet, however far you drew them. The side-by-side pairs are parallel, which is the heart of the word.

A parallelogram parallelogram是 is a flat four-sided shape是一個平的四邊形。Each side每一邊 is the same length as the side across from it跟對面那一邊長度相同, and而 those two sides run in the same direction這兩邊方向相同 — they它們 would never meet永遠不會相交, however far you drew them不管你畫多長。The side-by-side pairs這種一對一對的邊 are parallel是平行的, which is the heart of the word這就是這個字的核心。

A rectangle is a parallelogram whose corners are all square; a rhombus is one whose four sides are all equal; a square is both.

A rectangle長方形 is a parallelogram whose corners are all square是四個角都是直角的parallelogram; a rhombus菱形 is one whose four sides are all equal是四邊都相等的parallelogram; a square正方形 is both兩個條件都符合。

People meet the word in school maths and almost nowhere else in daily talk. It is a calm, exact classroom word, not a chatty one.

People人們 meet the word會遇到這個字 in school maths在學校數學課裡 and almost nowhere else in daily talk日常對話裡幾乎不會出現。It它 is a calm, exact classroom word是一個平靜、精確的教室用詞, not a chatty one不是聊天會用的字。

Though actually, once you leave the classroom, almost nobody says it: they say “that leaning box shape” or just “rectangle,” even when the corners are not square.

Though actually不過其實, once you leave the classroom一旦離開教室, almost nobody says it幾乎沒有人會這樣說: they他們 say會說 “that leaning box shape” or just “rectangle,”「那個斜斜的箱子形狀」或直接說「長方形」, even when the corners are not square就算角不是直角也一樣。