Black-tie names a dress code, and then the events that use it. At a black-tie event, men traditionally wear a dinner jacket (a tuxedo) with a black bow tie, not an ordinary work suit and not the even grander tails of white-tie. Women wear evening dresses. Invitations say “black tie” so guests know this is a special night: a ball, a formal dinner, an awards evening, a fancy wedding.

Black-tie names Black-tie 指的是 a dress code一種著裝規定，and then the events that use it再連帶指用這套規定的場合。At a black-tie event在 black-tie 的場合，men男士 traditionally照傳統 wear穿 a dinner jacket (a tuxedo)小晚禮服（tuxedo） with a black bow tie配黑色領結，not不是 an ordinary work suit普通的上班西裝，and not也不是 of white-tie white-tie 那種 the even grander tails更隆重的燕尾服。Women女士 wear穿 evening dresses晚禮服。Invitations邀請函 say “black tie”會寫上 “black tie”，so guests know好讓客人知道 this is a special night這是特別的一晚：a ball舞會、a formal dinner正式晚宴、an awards evening頒獎晚會、a fancy wedding隆重的婚禮。

Though actually, people now stretch the word. “Black-tie” can mean “dress up a lot” even when not everyone wears a real tuxedo, and you will see “black-tie optional” — come formal if you like, but a dark suit may pass.

Though actually不過老實說，people now stretch the word現在人們把這個字拉寬了。“Black-tie” can mean可以指 “dress up a lot”「盛裝打扮」，even when not everyone wears a real tuxedo就算不是每個人都穿真正的小晚禮服；and you will see你也會看到 “black-tie optional”——come formal if you like想穿正式的就穿，but a dark suit may pass但深色西裝也許過得了關。

The hyphenated form black-tie is usually an adjective before a noun (a black-tie dinner). As a noun, the dress code is often written black tie.

The hyphenated form black-tie加連字號的 black-tie usually通常 is an adjective before a noun是放在名詞前的形容詞（a black-tie dinner）。As a noun當名詞的時候，the dress code這套著裝規定 is often written常寫成 black tie。

It is not everyday clothes, and it is not the same as “smart casual.” In very old-fashioned ranking, white-tie is stricter still; black-tie is already very formal, just one step down.

It is not everyday clothes它不是日常衣著，and it is not the same as “smart casual.”也不等於 “smart casual”。In very old-fashioned ranking在很老派的排序裡，white-tie is stricter still white-tie 還要更嚴；black-tie is already very formal black-tie 已經非常正式，just one step down只是低一階。