Hedonism is the belief that pleasure is the most important thing in life — that a good life is one with more pleasure and less pain. As a serious word, it names a way of thinking: some Greek thinkers argued this, and later writers still argue about it. That older idea was not only about parties; it was a claim about what “good” means.

Hedonism享樂主義 is the belief that相信 pleasure快樂 is the most important thing in life是人生中最重要的事 — a good life好的人生 is就是 one with more pleasure and less pain快樂多、痛苦少的人生。As a serious word當作嚴肅的詞來看, it names a way of thinking指的是一種思想: some Greek thinkers希臘的一些思想家 argued this主張過這個看法, and later writers後來的作家 still argue about it也還在爭論。That older idea這個較早的想法 was not only about parties不只是在講狂歡作樂; it was a claim about是在講 what "good" means「好」到底是什麼意思。

In everyday English, though actually, people use hedonism more loosely, and often with a little blame. “Pure hedonism” in a newspaper often means eating, drinking, shopping, and having fun with no thought for work, duty, or other people. That everyday use is harsher and smaller than the philosophy.

In everyday English在日常英文裡, though actually不過, people use hedonism more loosely大家用hedonism這個詞比較鬆散, and often with a little blame而且常帶點責備的意味. In a newspaper報紙上的 "Pure hedonism"「純享樂主義」 often means通常是指 eating, drinking, shopping, and having fun吃喝、購物、玩樂, with no thought for work, duty, or other people完全不顧工作、責任或別人。That everyday use這種日常用法 than比 the philosophy哲學上的意思 is often harsher and smaller更嚴厲、更狹隘。

The word is formal. You will meet it in essays and reviews, not in the playground.

The word這個詞 is formal很正式。In essays and reviews在論說文和書評裡 you will meet it你會遇到它, not in the playground不會在操場上。

The person who lives this way is a hedonist; hedonism is the idea (or the habit), not the person.

The person who lives this way這樣過生活的人 is a hedonist叫做hedonist（享樂主義者）; hedonism而hedonism is the idea (or the habit)指的是這種想法（或習慣）, not the person不是指人。