Self-effacement is the habit of stepping out of the light so people do not look at you — especially at what you have done well. You do the work, then you make yourself small in the story.

Self-effacement is self-effacement是 the habit of stepping out of the light一種把自己從鏡頭前退開的習慣， so people do not look at you讓人家不會注意到你—— especially at what you have done well尤其是你做得好的地方。 You do the work你把事情做完， then you make yourself small然後把自己縮小 in the story放進故事裡不起眼的角落。

It is a noun, and a rather bookish one: more at home in essays, biographies, and careful praise than in the street. In ordinary talk people say someone is modest, or does not like the spotlight.

It is a noun它是名詞, and a rather bookish one而且偏書面: more at home in essays, biographies, and careful praise比較常出現在散文、傳記和用心寫的稱讚裡 than in the street而不是在街頭巷尾的對話裡。 In ordinary talk平常講話裡 people say someone is modest大家會說一個人很謙虛, or does not like the spotlight或不喜歡出風頭。

It is not quite the same as shyness. A shy person may want to be seen and freeze; a self-effacing person often chooses not to take the credit.

It is not quite the same as它跟 shyness害羞不太一樣。 A shy person害羞的人 may want to be seen and freeze可能很想被看見卻又整個人僵住; a self-effacing person而懂得self-effacement的人 often chooses not to take the credit通常是選擇不搶功勞。

In some places this is treated as a virtue. Though actually, English speakers sometimes use the word with a raised eyebrow: too much self-effacement can look like hiding, or like refusing thanks that are fairly yours.

In some places在有些地方 this is treated as a virtue這被當成一種美德。 Though actually不過其實, English speakers sometimes use the word with a raised eyebrow說英文的人有時候講這個字會帶點懷疑的眼神: too much self-effacement太過謙抑 can look like hiding看起來可能像是在躲, or like refusing thanks that are fairly yours或像拒絕接受本來就屬於你的感謝。