A condiment is something you add to food to give it a special taste — not the meal itself, but the extra. Salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, vinegar, chilli sauce, mayonnaise: you shake it, pour it, or dip food into it. Some condiments are a powder, some are a liquid or a thick sauce.

A condiment調味料 is something you add to food是加進食物裡的東西 to give it a special taste用來讓食物有特別的味道——not the meal itself, but the extra不是這道菜本身，而是額外加上去的東西。Salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, vinegar, chilli sauce, mayonnaise鹽、胡椒、番茄醬、芥末、醬油、醋、辣椒醬、美乃滋：you shake it, pour it, or dip food into it你可以把它撒上去、倒出來，或是拿食物去沾。Some condiments are a powder有些調味料是粉狀的，some are a liquid or a thick sauce有些是液體或濃稠的醬。

In everyday talk, people often just name the bottle (“Pass the ketchup”) rather than say condiment. You meet the word more on labels, menus, and in slightly careful or textbook English.

In everyday talk在日常對話裡，people often just name the bottle ("Pass the ketchup")大家通常會直接說瓶子的名字（像「Pass the ketchup」），rather than say condiment而不會說 condiment 這個詞。You你 meet the word more比較會看到這個詞 on labels, menus在標籤上、菜單上，and in slightly careful or textbook English還有比較講究、書面一點的英文裡。

In some places a “condiment” table is a little row of pickles, chutneys, or chilli oils sitting beside the main food.

In some places在有些地方，a "condiment" table所謂的「condiment」桌 is a little row of pickles, chutneys, or chilli oils是擺著一排醃菜、印度甜酸醬或辣油，sitting beside the main food放在主餐旁邊。

Though actually, the old idea was not only “make it tasty” but also “season, pickle, preserve” — helping food keep, or giving it a sharp, lasting taste.

Though actually不過其實，the old idea was not only "make it tasty"這個字原本的概念不只是「讓食物好吃」，but also "season, pickle, preserve"還包括「調味、醃漬、保存」——helping food keep, or giving it a sharp, lasting taste幫助食物保存得久，或是讓它有濃烈、持久的味道。