Dormancy is the state of being dormant: not active, not growing, not doing much right now, but able to wake later.

Dormancy休眠 is是 the state of being dormant休眠的狀態: not active不活躍, not growing不生長, not doing much right now現在沒在做什麼, but但 able to wake later之後能夠醒過來。

Scientists use it for seeds that wait in the soil, trees that rest in winter, and animals that slow down through a cold or dry season. Doctors may use it for an illness that is quiet for a while.

Scientists科學家 use it用這個詞 for seeds that wait in the soil來說在土裡等待的種子, trees that rest in winter冬天休息的樹木, and和 animals that slow down through a cold or dry season在寒冷或乾燥季節放慢下來的動物。Doctors醫生 may use it也可能用它 for an illness that is quiet for a while來說暫時安靜下來的疾病。

You can also hear it in more abstract talk — a talent in dormancy, a project in dormancy — though that sounds a little stiff. It is a slightly formal, textbook noun. Everyday English often prefers the adjective: “The volcano is dormant” is more common than “The volcano is in dormancy,” even though both are correct.

You can also hear it你也可能聽到它 in more abstract talk在比較抽象的說法裡 — a talent in dormancy像是休眠中的才華, a project in dormancy休眠中的計畫 — though不過 that sounds a little stiff那聽起來有點生硬。It is它是 a slightly formal, textbook noun一個稍微正式、教科書式的名詞。Everyday English日常英文 often prefers比較常用 the adjective形容詞: “The volcano is dormant”「The volcano is dormant」（火山是休眠的） is more common than比 “The volcano is in dormancy,”「The volcano is in dormancy」更常見, even though儘管 both are correct兩種說法都對。

The picture behind the word is sleep, not death: the thing is paused, not finished.

The picture behind the word這個字背後的畫面 is是 sleep睡著, not death不是死掉: the thing is paused那個東西是暫停了, not finished不是結束了。