Transvestism is the name for the practice of dressing in the clothes usually worn by the opposite sex — most often used of men wearing women's clothes. It is the abstract noun: the behaviour itself, treated as a topic. 'Transvestism has a long history in the theatre.' A student needs three things here.

TransvestismTransvestism is是 the name for the practice of dressing in the clothes usually worn by the opposite sex穿上通常屬於異性服裝這種行為的名稱 most often used of men wearing women's clothes最常用來指男性穿女裝 It is the abstract noun這是個抽象名詞 the behaviour itself, treated as a topic把這個行為本身當成一個話題來談 'Transvestism has a long history in the theatre.''Transvestism has a long history in the theatre.'（異裝在戲劇裡有悠久的歷史） A student needs three things here學生在這裡要注意三件事

First, register: this is a formal, rather clinical word, from medical and psychology writing of the last century. Ordinary people say 'cross-dressing', which means the same and sounds neutral and modern.

First, register首先是語域 this is a formal, rather clinical word這是個正式、帶點臨床味道的字 from medical and psychology writing of the last century來自上個世紀的醫學和心理學寫作 Ordinary people say 'cross-dressing'一般人會說'cross-dressing' which means the same and sounds neutral and modern意思一樣，但聽起來中性又現代

Second, this is about clothes, and it is not the same as being transgender — someone who cross-dresses is usually not asking to live as another sex, and mixing the two up is a common and hurtful mistake.

Second第二點 this is about clothes這個字講的是衣服 and it is not the same as being transgender跟是不是跨性別者不是同一回事 someone who cross-dresses is usually not asking to live as another sex穿異性服裝的人通常並不是想以另一個性別生活 and mixing the two up is a common and hurtful mistake把這兩者搞混是常見、也很傷人的錯誤

Third, dressing as another sex has been part of theatre, comedy and festival for centuries in many countries, so the word covers everything from a Shakespeare play, where boys played all the women's parts, to a modern drag show — though people in drag today would say 'drag', not this word.

Third第三點 dressing as another sex has been part of theatre, comedy and festival for centuries in many countries在許多國家，穿異性服裝好幾世紀以來都是戲劇、喜劇和節慶的一部分 so the word covers everything所以這個字涵蓋的範圍很廣 from a Shakespeare play, where boys played all the women's parts從莎士比亞的戲劇（男孩演所有女性角色） to a modern drag show一直到現代的drag show（變裝秀） though people in drag today would say 'drag', not this word不過今天做變裝表演的人會說'drag'，不會用這個字

As with 'transsexualism', the -ism ending makes it sound like a diagnosis, which is a big reason it has fallen out of use. Read it, understand it, and say 'cross-dressing' yourself.

As with 'transsexualism'就像'transsexualism'一樣 the -ism ending makes it sound like a diagnosis字尾的-ism讓它聽起來像個診斷用語 which is a big reason it has fallen out of use這也是它逐漸不再被使用的一大原因 Read it, understand it, and say 'cross-dressing' yourself看懂這個字、理解它，但自己要用的話就說'cross-dressing'