People say the f-word when they mean the rude word fuck but do not want to say it, because it is offensive. It is a polite — or at least careful — way of naming the word without putting it in the room. Parents, teachers, newsreaders, and anyone who is trying not to swear use it.

People人們 when they mean the rude word fuck心裡指的是 fuck 這個粗字, but do not want to say it卻不想說出口時, say就說 the f-word, because it is offensive因為那個字很冒犯人。It is這是 without putting it in the room不把那個字放進房間裡, naming the word卻能點名那個字 a polite — or at least careful — way的一種有禮貌——或至少算小心——的方式。Parents, teachers, newsreaders家長、老師、新聞主播, and anyone who is trying not to swear以及任何努力不說髒話的人 use it都用它。

You almost always hear it with the: the f-word. It is informal, but it is the opposite of casual swearing: the whole point is to step around the rude word.

You你 almost always hear it幾乎總是聽到它 with the帶著 the: the f-word。It is它 informal口語, but但 it is the opposite of casual swearing跟隨口罵髒話正好相反: the whole point整個重點 is to step around the rude word就是要繞開那個粗字。

The same little pattern exists for other taboo words (people say the n-word in the same way). In this sense it is not a mystery letter; everyone knows which word is meant.

The same little pattern同樣的小模式 for other taboo words在其他忌諱字上 exists也存在, people人們 in the same way用同樣的方式 say說 the n-word。In this sense在這個意思裡 it它 is not a mystery letter不是什麼謎樣的字母; everyone大家 knows都知道 which word is meant指的是哪個字。