A governess was, in the past, a woman who lived with a rich family and taught their children at home. She was not the mother, and she was not quite a servant either — a strange in-between job.

A governess was, in the past過去所謂的governess， a woman who lived with a rich family and taught their children at home是指住在有錢人家裡、在家教小孩的女性。 She was not the mother她不是母親， and she was not quite a servant either但也不完全算是傭人—— a strange in-between job是個介於兩者之間、有點奇特的工作。

She taught reading, writing, languages, music, and manners, usually to girls and to younger boys, before the boys were sent away to school. You meet her in old stories set in big houses.

She taught reading, writing, languages, music, and manners她教閱讀、寫作、語言、音樂和禮儀， usually to girls and to younger boys通常教的是女孩和年紀較小的男孩， before the boys were sent away to school在男孩被送去學校之前。 You meet her in old stories set in big houses你會在以大宅為背景的老故事裡遇到她。

Though actually, she is not a nanny: a nanny looks after little children — food, clothes, sleep, comfort. A governess was a teacher who happened to live in.

Though actually不過事實上， she is not a nanny她不是nanny（保母）： a nanny looks after little children她照顧的是小小孩—— food, clothes, sleep, comfort吃飯、穿衣、睡覺、安撫這些事。 A governess was a teacher who happened to live in她則是剛好住在雇主家裡的老師。

She is also not a governor. A governor runs a place; a governess taught children.

She is also not a governor她也不是governor（總督／州長）。 A governor runs a place他管理的是一個地方； a governess taught children而governess教的是小孩。

The word feels historical now. Families today say private teacher or tutor if someone comes to the house to teach, and that person usually does not live there.

The word feels historical now這個字現在聽起來很有歷史感。 Families today say private teacher or tutor if someone comes to the house to teach現在的家庭如果請人到家裡教書，會說private teacher或tutor， and that person usually does not live there而且那個人通常不會住在家裡。