Catalysis is the process, not the powder. You add a catalyst — a helper substance — and a chemical change runs faster. The change would often still happen, just slowly; catalysis is the speeding-up.

Catalysis催化作用 is指的是 the process這個過程, not不是 the powder那個粉末本身。 You你 add加入 a catalyst催化劑——a helper substance一種輔助物質——a chemical change化學反應 runs faster就會變得更快。 The change這個反應 would often still happen通常還是會發生, just slowly只是比較慢; catalysis催化作用 is the speeding-up就是那個加快的過程。

School books say the helper is “not used up.” Though actually it does take part, then comes back, so in the net reaction it is still there — that tidy sentence hides a messier truth.

School books教科書 say說 the helper is “not used up.”這個幫手「不會被用掉」 Though actually但其實 it does take part它有參與反應, then comes back之後又跑回來, so所以 in the net reaction在淨反應裡 it is still there它還是在 — that tidy sentence這句乾淨的話 hides藏著 a messier truth比較複雜的真相。

Chemists live on this word. In everyday English it is rare.

Chemists化學家 live on離不開 this word這個字。 In everyday English在日常英文裡 it is rare很少見。

People sometimes borrow it as a metaphor for a meeting that starts a change, but most speakers grab catalyst for that, not catalysis. A car's catalytic converter is the place many students meet the family first: it uses catalysis to clean the exhaust.

People有時候人們 sometimes borrow it會借用這個詞 as a metaphor當作比喻 for a meeting that starts a change來說某個引發改變的會面, but most speakers但大多數人 grab遇到這種情況會用 catalyst催化劑 for that這個字, not catalysis而不是用catalysis（催化作用）。 A car's catalytic converter汽車的觸媒轉化器 is the place many students meet the family first是很多學生第一次接觸到這個詞家族的地方: it uses catalysis它利用催化作用 to clean the exhaust來淨化廢氣。