Soap that has been cut into thin little pieces, like snow or like very small dry petals, so that it melts quickly in water. It comes in a box or a bag.

SoapSoap that has been cut into thin little pieces被切成一片片薄薄的碎片, like snow or like very small dry petals就像雪或很小的乾花瓣, so that it melts quickly in water這樣才能在水裡很快融化。It comes它裝在 in a box or a bag盒子或袋子裡。

People used it for washing clothes by hand, especially soft things you did not want to hurt — wool sweaters, silk, and baby clothes.

People人們 used it過去會用它 for washing clothes by hand手洗衣服, especially soft things尤其是柔軟的東西 you did not want to hurt你不想傷到的那種 — wool sweaters, silk, and baby clothes毛衣、絲質衣物和嬰兒衣服。

The word is plural in form and takes a plural verb: 'the soapflakes are in the cupboard'. You would not normally say 'a soapflake' about one piece, the same way you would not talk about one cornflake in a serious sentence.

The word這個詞 is plural in form形式上是複數 and takes a plural verb而且要搭配複數動詞: 'the soapflakes are in the cupboard'"the soapflakes are in the cupboard"（肥皂片在櫥櫃裡）。You would not normally say你通常不會說 'a soapflake'"a soapflake" about one piece來指單獨一片, the same way就像 you would not talk about one cornflake你不會在正經句子裡講「一片玉米片」 in a serious sentence一樣。

This word feels old. Soapflakes were everywhere in the 1950s and 60s, and then washing powder and then liquid detergent pushed them out.

This word這個詞 feels old讓人覺得老派。Soapflakes Soapflakes were everywhere在1950、60年代 in the 1950s and 60s到處都是, and then washing powder然後洗衣粉 and then liquid detergent接著洗衣精 pushed them out把它們擠出了市場。

Today you will meet the word in an old novel, in your grandmother's talk, or on a small expensive box in a shop that sells things for washing wool. Younger English speakers know what it means but almost never buy any. That is worth knowing so that you do not use it for ordinary laundry soap — for that, say 'washing powder' (British) or 'laundry detergent' (American).

Today今天 you will meet the word你會在 in an old novel舊小說裡, in your grandmother's talk奶奶輩的談話裡, or on a small expensive box或是在 in a shop that sells things for washing wool賣洗毛料用品的店裡一個小小又昂貴的盒子上遇到這個詞。Younger English speakers年輕的英語使用者 know what it means知道它的意思 but almost never buy any但幾乎不會去買。That is worth knowing這點值得知道, so that you do not use it這樣你才不會拿它 for ordinary laundry soap來指一般的洗衣皂 — for that對於那個, say 'washing powder' (British)請說"washing powder"（英式） or 'laundry detergent' (American)或"laundry detergent"（美式）。