A hardback is a book with a strong, stiff cover, not a soft paper one. You can hold it by the cover and it keeps its shape on a shelf.

A hardback is精裝本是 a book一種書, with a strong, stiff cover它的封面很堅固很硬, not a soft paper one而不是軟軟的紙封面。You can hold it你可以拿著 by the cover封面 and it keeps its shape而它在書架上還是能保持形狀 on a shelf。

In Britain this is the usual word. In the United States the same book is usually called a hardcover — same object, different habit.

In Britain在英國, this is the usual word這是常用的說法。In the United States在美國, the same book同一種書 is usually called通常叫做 a hardcover hardcover — same object同一個東西, different habit不同的習慣說法。

Hardbacks cost more than paperbacks and last longer. Though actually, many books come out in hardback first, when the publisher still hopes to sell them as gifts or library copies, and a cheaper paperback follows later.

Hardbacks精裝本 cost more than paperbacks比平裝本貴 and last longer而且比較耐用。Though actually不過事實上, many books很多書 come out in hardback first會先出精裝本, when the publisher因為出版社 still hopes to sell them還希望能把它們賣給 as gifts or library copies送禮的人或圖書館, and a cheaper paperback follows later之後才會推出比較便宜的平裝本。

You can say a hardback (the book itself) or a hardback edition. It is not “the hard back” of a chair, and it is not only the back cover: the whole book is a hardback.

You can say你可以說 a hardback hardback (the book itself指這本書本身), or a hardback edition或說hardback edition。It is not "the hard back" of a chair它不是椅子的「硬椅背」, and it is not only the back cover也不是只指封底: the whole book整本書 is a hardback才是hardback。