Taffeta is a kind of cloth: smooth, shiny, and stiff. That stiffness is the point of it.

TaffetaTaffeta is a kind of cloth是一種布料：smooth, shiny, and stiff滑順、有光澤，而且硬挺。That stiffness is the point of it那個硬挺的特性正是它的重點。

Because taffeta holds its shape instead of hanging soft against the body, it is used where a designer wants a skirt to stand out from the waist, or a sleeve to puff, or a big dress to keep its shape all evening. It also makes a faint rustling sound when it moves, which people who sew often mention.

Because因為 taffeta holds its shape instead of hanging soft against the body塔夫綢會保持形狀，不會軟軟地貼在身上，it is used where它就被用在a designer wants a skirt to stand out from the waist設計師想讓裙子從腰部撐出來，or a sleeve to puff或讓袖子蓬起來，or a big dress to keep its shape all evening或讓大禮服整晚都能撐住形狀的地方。It also makes a faint rustling sound when it moves它移動時還會發出輕輕的沙沙聲，which people who sew often mention這是做裁縫的人常提到的。

Traditionally it was silk; today most of what you buy is nylon or polyester made the same way, and it is much cheaper. You meet the word mainly in a few settings: formal dresses, especially wedding dresses and prom or ball gowns, and — because of that — in descriptions of old-fashioned or expensive clothes in novels.

Traditionally傳統上 it was silk它是絲做的；today今天 most of what you buy is nylon or polyester made the same way你買到的大多是用同樣方式做的尼龍或聚酯纖維，and it is much cheaper而且便宜很多。You meet the word mainly in a few settings你主要會在幾個場合碰到這個字：formal dresses正式禮服，especially wedding dresses and prom or ball gowns尤其是婚紗和舞會禮服，and — because of that — in descriptions of old-fashioned or expensive clothes in novels也因為這樣，會出現在小說裡描寫老派或昂貴服裝的段落。

It is also used for linings, curtains, and even in some technical products. It is an uncountable noun, so you say 'a metre of taffeta' or 'a taffeta dress', not 'a taffeta'. For a Taiwanese student, this is a word you are more likely to read than to say, unless you sew or work in fashion.

It is also used for linings, curtains, and even in some technical products它也用來做內裡、窗簾，甚至一些技術性產品。It is an uncountable noun它是不可數名詞，so you say 'a metre of taffeta' or 'a taffeta dress'所以你會說「a metre of taffeta（一米塔夫綢）」或「a taffeta dress（塔夫綢洋裝）」，not 'a taffeta'而不會說「a taffeta」。For a Taiwanese student對台灣學生來說，this is a word you are more likely to read than to say這是個比較常讀到、不太會講出口的字，unless you sew or work in fashion除非你做裁縫或在時尚業工作。