Arbitration is the process of judging officially how an argument should be settled — the meetings, the rules, and the decision — usually without a full court case. Two companies, or a worker and a boss, go to arbitration. A contract often already says “if we fight, we use arbitration.” It is a formal, legal-sounding noun.

Arbitration is the process of judging officially how an argument should be settled arbitration是指正式判定一場爭議該怎麼解決的整個過程 the meetings, the rules, and the decision包括開會、規則和最後的裁定 usually without a full court case通常不需要走完整的法院程序 Two companies, or a worker and a boss, go to arbitration兩家公司，或是員工和老闆，會去arbitration A contract often already says "if we fight, we use arbitration."合約裡常常已經寫好「如果有爭議，就用arbitration解決」 It is a formal, legal-sounding noun這是一個聽起來很正式、法律味很重的名詞

People mix it up with mediation. In mediation, a helper tries to get both sides to agree. In arbitration, someone decides, and that decision usually sticks.

People mix it up with mediation人們常常把它跟mediation搞混 In mediation, a helper tries to get both sides to agree在mediation裡，有一個協調者試著讓雙方達成共識 In arbitration, someone decides而在arbitration裡，是有人做出裁定 and that decision usually sticks而且這個裁定通常就定案了

Though actually, some arbitration is binding (you must follow it) and some is not; the word by itself does not always tell you which. You go to arbitration; you do not “do an arbitration” in casual talk the way you “do a meeting,” though lawyers will speak of “an arbitration.”

Though actually不過事實上 some arbitration is binding (you must follow it) and some is not有些arbitration有約束力（你必須遵守），有些沒有 the word by itself does not always tell you which光看這個字本身不一定看得出是哪一種 You go to arbitration你會說go to arbitration you do not "do an arbitration" in casual talk the way you "do a meeting,"但平常不會像講do a meeting那樣說do an arbitration though lawyers will speak of "an arbitration."不過律師會說an arbitration