This is a very old and very rude word for a person whose parents are of different races. People who used it treated human beings as if they belonged to fixed “castes,” or closed racial groups, and they talked as if someone of mixed background were only half of one group and half of another — less than whole. That idea is ugly, and the word carries it.

This is 這是 a very old and very rude word一個非常老舊、也非常粗魯的字 for a person whose parents are of different races用來指父母是不同種族的人。 People who used it用這個字的人 treated human beings as if they belonged to fixed "castes"把人類當成好像屬於固定的「castes」（種姓）， or或也就是 closed racial groups封閉的種族群體， and而 they talked as if他們講話的方式好像 someone of mixed background混合背景的人 were only half of one group and half of another只是一半屬於這邊、一半屬於那邊—— less than whole不是完整的一個人。 That idea那個想法 is ugly很醜陋， and而 the word carries it這個字也帶著這個想法。

Do not use this word about anyone, not as a joke, and not because you heard it in an old film. If you need to speak about mixed background, say mixed-race, of mixed heritage, or the words the person uses for themselves.

Do not use this word about anyone不要用這個字講任何人， not as a joke不要當笑話講， and也 not because you heard it in an old film不要因為你在老電影裡聽過就跟著講。 If you need to speak about mixed background如果你需要講到混合背景， say mixed-race可以說mixed-race、 of mixed heritageof mixed heritage、 or或是 the words the person uses for themselves用那個人自己怎麼稱呼自己的說法。

You may still meet half-caste in old books from Britain or its former colonies. Seeing it there does not make it a word you can pick up.

You你 may still meet half-caste可能還是會遇到half-caste這個字 in old books from Britain or its former colonies在英國或它以前殖民地的舊書裡。 Seeing it there在那裡看到它 does not make it a word you can pick up不代表你就可以拿來用。