When people bicker, they argue — but the matter is small, and they often keep at it. Whose turn it is to wash up. Whether the window should be open. Who left a cup in the sink.

When people bicker當人們bicker的時候，they argue他們在吵架——but the matter is small但事情很小，and they often keep at it而且常常吵個不停。Whose turn it is to wash up像輪到誰洗碗、Whether the window should be open窗戶該不該開著、Who left a cup in the sink誰把杯子留在水槽裡沒洗。

The words can be sharp, but you would not call the police; you would roll your eyes.

The words can be sharp講出來的話可能很尖銳，but you would not call the police但你不會因此報警；you would roll your eyes你只會翻白眼。

Couples bicker. Brothers and sisters bicker. Two countries at war do not bicker: that word would make the fight sound too tiny.

Couples bicker情侶會bicker。Brothers and sisters bicker兄弟姊妹也會bicker。Two countries at war do not bicker打仗的兩個國家不會用bicker這個字：that word would make the fight sound too tiny因為這個字會讓那場戰爭聽起來太小兒科。

It is a little homely, a little old-fashioned in tone, but still very much alive when you talk about family life.

It is a little homely, a little old-fashioned in tone這個字的語氣有點家常、有點老派，but still very much alive when you talk about family life但講到家庭生活時還是很常用。

You will mostly meet the verb. There is a noun too ('a bicker'), though the -ing form bickering is the usual name for the noise itself.

You will mostly meet the verb你大多會遇到它的動詞用法。There is a noun too也有名詞用法（'a bicker'「a bicker」一場小口角），though the -ing form bickering is the usual name for the noise itself不過-ing形式bickering才是那種吵鬧聲通常的稱呼。

Though actually the older meaning was closer to 'attack' or 'stab' — little repeated jabs — and the word has softened into this pecking with words.

Though actually不過事實上，the older meaning was closer to 'attack' or 'stab'比較早的意思更接近「攻擊」或「刺」——little repeated jabs一次次的小攻擊——and the word has softened into this pecking with words後來這個字才軟化成現在這種用言語互啄的意思。