A fractal is a pattern that keeps the same kind of shape when you look closer and closer. You repeat a shape, then make smaller copies, then smaller copies of those, again and again. A fern, a snowflake, or a ragged coastline is often called fractal because a little piece looks like the whole.

A fractal Fractal（碎形） is a pattern是一種圖案 that keeps the same kind of shape保持同樣形狀的 when you look closer and closer當你越看越近的時候。 You repeat a shape你重複一個形狀, then make smaller copies接著做出更小的複本, then smaller copies of those然後再做出那些複本更小的複本, again and again一直重複下去。 A fern, a snowflake, or a ragged coastline蕨類、雪花，或參差不齊的海岸線, is often called fractal常被稱為fractal, because a little piece looks like the whole因為一小部分看起來就跟整體一樣。

Computers are very good at drawing them, so many people first meet fractals as bright swirling pictures on a screen — though actually the idea is mathematical, not just computer art. The name comes from a Latin word for “broken,” because you keep breaking the pattern into smaller bits and the edge is never a simple smooth line.

Computers are very good at drawing them電腦很擅長畫出它們, so many people first meet fractals所以很多人第一次認識fractal as bright swirling pictures on a screen是透過螢幕上那種鮮豔漩渦狀的圖片 — though actually不過其實 the idea is mathematical這個概念是數學的, not just computer art不只是電腦繪圖藝術。 The name這個名字 comes from a Latin word for "broken,"來自一個意思是「破碎」的拉丁字, because you keep breaking the pattern into smaller bits因為你不斷把這個圖案打碎成更小的碎片 and the edge is never a simple smooth line而邊緣永遠不會是簡單平滑的線。

You can say a fractal (the thing) or a fractal pattern (the adjective). Scientists care about the repeating rule; posters care about the pretty picture. Both uses are real.

You can say你可以說 a fractal (the thing)a fractal（名詞，指這樣東西） or a fractal pattern (the adjective)或a fractal pattern（形容詞用法）。 Scientists care about the repeating rule科學家在乎的是重複的規則; posters care about the pretty picture海報在乎的是好看的圖案。 Both uses are real這兩種用法都是真實存在的。