An annuity is a promised stream of money paid on a set timetable — classically once a year, and often until the person dies. Banks and insurance companies sell it as a product: you give them a lump of money (or pay in over time), and they pay you a fixed amount for life, or for a fixed number of years.

An annuity is a promised stream of money paid on a set timetableannuity是一種按固定時間表支付的承諾性金流—— classically once a year, and often until the person dies傳統上是一年一次，而且通常會付到這個人過世為止 Banks and insurance companies sell it as a product銀行和保險公司把它當成一種商品在賣： you give them a lump of money (or pay in over time)你給他們一筆錢（或分期付款）， and they pay you a fixed amount for life, or for a fixed number of years他們就付給你固定金額，付一輩子，或付固定的年數

In real talk, people also call monthly or quarterly payouts an annuity; the old “once a year” idea sits in the word, but the product is about money you can count on, again and again, not about the calendar. It is a formal money-and-law word — pensions, insurance, retirement — not a chat word.

In real talk在實際說法裡， people also call monthly or quarterly payouts an annuity人們也會把每月或每季的給付叫做annuity； the old "once a year" idea sits in the word「一年一次」這個舊概念雖然還留在字裡， but the product is about money you can count on, again and again, not about the calendar但這項商品講的是你可以一次又一次靠得住的錢，不是行事曆的問題 It is a formal money-and-law word它是一個正式的財經法律用字—— pensions, insurance, retirement退休金、保險、退休—— not a chat word不是聊天會用的字

A work pension feels close (regular money after you stop working), but an annuity is the contract itself: a promise to keep paying, often bought, not earned as wages. Some modern products let the amount rise and fall with markets; the core learner sense is still the fixed, regular one.

A work pension feels close (regular money after you stop working)工作退休金（pension）的感覺很接近（停止工作後定期拿到的錢）， but an annuity is the contract itself但annuity是合約本身： a promise to keep paying, often bought, not earned as wages一個持續支付的承諾，通常是買來的，不是靠薪水賺來的 Some modern products let the amount rise and fall with markets有些現代商品會讓金額隨市場漲跌； the core learner sense is still the fixed, regular one但學習者需要掌握的核心意思，還是固定、定期的那種