A sparkler is a small firework you hold in your hand: a thin metal stick coated at one end with a mixture that burns slowly, throwing off bright white or coloured sparks. It does not explode and it does not fly — it just burns, brilliantly, for perhaps thirty seconds to a minute, and then it is done.

A sparkler仙女棒 is是 you hold in your hand你拿在手裡的 a small firework小型煙火: a thin metal stick一根細金屬棒, coated at one end一端塗了 that burns slowly會慢慢燃燒的 a mixture混合物, throwing off bright white or coloured sparks噴出明亮的白色或彩色火花. It does not explode它不會爆炸 and it does not fly也不會飛 — it just burns, brilliantly它只是燦爛地燃燒著, for perhaps thirty seconds to a minute大概三十秒到一分鐘, and then it is done然後就結束了.

Because it is safe enough for children to hold (with an adult nearby), the sparkler is the firework of family celebrations. In Britain you see them on Bonfire Night in November; in America on the Fourth of July. And everywhere they go on birthday cakes — the tall thin ones stuck into the icing, fountaining sparks over the candles while everyone sings. Restaurants use them for the same reason: a dessert arriving with a sparkler in it announces itself. Countable: a sparkler, a box of sparklers.

Because it is safe enough for children to hold因為安全到小孩子也能拿 (with an adult nearby有大人在旁邊的話), the sparkler is所以仙女棒是 the firework of family celebrations家庭慶祝場合的煙火. In Britain在英國, you see them看得到它 on Bonfire Night in November十一月的篝火節; in America在美國 on the Fourth of July則是七月四日. And everywhere而且到處 they go on birthday cakes它們都插在生日蛋糕上 — the tall thin ones那種細長的 stuck into the icing插在糖霜裡, fountaining sparks over the candles在蠟燭上方噴出火花 while everyone sings大家一邊唱歌. Restaurants use them for the same reason餐廳也是同樣的理由使用它們: a dessert arriving with a sparkler in it插著仙女棒送上來的甜點 announces itself自己就會引人注目. Countable可數: a sparkler一支仙女棒, a box of sparklers一盒仙女棒.

One classic thing people do with them: wave a lit sparkler in the air and your eye keeps the trail for a moment, so you can write your name in light. It disappears as fast as you draw it, and that is half the pleasure.

One classic thing people do with them人們用它們做的一件經典的事: wave a lit sparkler in the air把點燃的仙女棒在空中揮動 and your eye keeps the trail for a moment你的眼睛會短暫留住那道軌跡, so you can write your name in light所以你可以用光寫出自己的名字. It disappears as fast as you draw it你畫多快它就消失多快, and that is half the pleasure而這正是一半的樂趣所在.

A second meaning, worth knowing but not worth using: sparkler is old informal slang for a diamond, from the way it flashes. You may meet it in older novels or films. Nobody says it much now.

A second meaning第二個意思, worth knowing but not worth using值得知道但不值得使用: sparkler is old informal slang for a diamond舊式的非正式俚語裡 sparkler指的是鑽石, from the way it flashes因為它閃閃發亮的樣子. You may meet it你可能會在 in older novels or films比較舊的小說或電影裡遇到它. Nobody says it much now現在很少人這樣講了.

One honest caution about the object itself. Sparklers feel gentle, and people treat them casually, but they burn extremely hot — hot enough to burn skin badly, and the wire stays dangerous after the sparks stop. That is why the standard advice is to drop a finished one straight into a bucket of water rather than put it down.

One honest caution關於這東西本身有一個誠實的提醒 about the object itself. Sparklers feel gentle仙女棒感覺起來很溫和, and people treat them casually大家也常常不當一回事, but they burn extremely hot但它們燃燒起來非常燙 — hot enough to burn skin badly燙到足以嚴重灼傷皮膚, and the wire stays dangerous after the sparks stop而且火花熄滅後鐵絲仍然很危險. That is why這就是為什麼 the standard advice標準的建議是 is to drop a finished one straight into a bucket of water把用完的直接丟進一桶水裡 rather than put it down而不是隨手放下.