A GIF is a kind of computer file for pictures, made so they could travel easily on the internet. The letters stand for Graphics Interchange Format.

A GIF GIF is a kind of computer file for pictures 是一種存放圖片的電腦檔案, made so they could travel easily on the internet 設計成能在網路上輕鬆傳送。The letters 這幾個字母 stand for 代表 Graphics Interchange Format Graphics Interchange Format（圖形交換格式）

The old use was a still picture with few colours, so the file stayed small. The use students meet now is the short looping moving picture: a cat dancing, a face saying no, the same few seconds playing again and again, usually with no sound. People drop GIFs into chat the way they drop stickers.

The old use 舊的用法 was a still picture with few colours 是顏色不多的靜態圖片, so the file stayed small 所以檔案很小。The use students meet now 現在學生會遇到的用法 is the short looping moving picture 是那種短短、會一直循環播放的動圖: a cat dancing 一隻貓在跳舞, a face saying no 一張臉在說不, the same few seconds playing again and again 同樣幾秒鐘一直重複播放, usually with no sound 通常沒有聲音。People 大家 drop GIFs into chat 把GIF丟進聊天裡, the way they drop stickers 就像丟貼圖一樣

Though actually, a lot of the “GIFs” on your phone today are not true GIF files — apps often use a video format because it is smaller and looks cleaner — but everyone still calls them GIFs.

Though actually 不過其實, a lot of the "GIFs" on your phone today 手機上很多「GIF」 are not true GIF files 其實不是真正的GIF檔 — apps often use a video format 因為app常常用的是影片格式 because it is smaller and looks cleaner 因為比較小、看起來也比較乾淨 — but everyone still calls them GIFs 但大家還是都叫它GIF

There is a long, slightly silly fight about the sound: the man who made the format said “jif,” like the peanut butter; most people say a hard G, like “gift” without the t. Both are used.

There is a long, slightly silly fight about the sound 關於怎麼唸有一場長期、有點無聊的爭論: the man who made the format 發明這個格式的人 said "jif," like the peanut butter 說是「jif」，跟花生醬那個牌子一樣; most people 大部分人 say a hard G 唸硬音的G, like "gift" without the t 就像「gift」去掉t的音。Both are used 兩種唸法都有人用

Informal internet English; you can even stretch it into a verb, “to GIF” a moment, meaning to turn it into one of those loops.

Informal internet English 是網路上的非正式英文; you can even 甚至可以 stretch it into a verb 把它變成動詞, "to GIF" a moment 「to GIF」一個時刻, meaning to turn it into one of those loops 意思是把它變成那種循環動圖