Hieroglyphics is the everyday name for that picture-writing, especially ancient Egyptian writing: the whole set of picture-signs used to stand for words or parts of words. People say 'Can you read Egyptian hieroglyphics?' as if it were the name of the script.

Hieroglyphics這個字 is the everyday name是日常的說法 for that picture-writing指那種圖畫文字, especially ancient Egyptian writing尤其是古埃及文字: the whole set of picture-signs整套圖畫符號 used to stand for用來代表 words or parts of words單字或單字的一部分. People say大家會說 'Can you read Egyptian hieroglyphics?'「你看得懂埃及hieroglyphics嗎？」 as if好像 it were the name of the script那就是這套文字的名稱一樣.

Though actually, many careful writers prefer hieroglyphs (countable little signs) or hieroglyphic writing, and some call hieroglyphics a bit loose or old-fashioned. You will still hear hieroglyphics all the time, in schools and on TV.

Though actually不過其實 many careful writers prefer許多講究的作者比較喜歡用 hieroglyphs (countable little signs)hieroglyphs（可數的一個個符號） or hieroglyphic writing或hieroglyphic writing, and some call hieroglyphics有些人則覺得hieroglyphics a bit loose or old-fashioned有點鬆散或過時. You will still hear hieroglyphics你還是會常常聽到hieroglyphics all the time, in schools and on TV在學校和電視上.

It looks plural, and it usually stays plural: we do not often say 'a hieroglyphic' to mean the whole system. People also stretch it, with a smile, for any writing they cannot read — a doctor's note, a messy blackboard.

It looks plural它看起來是複數形 and it usually stays plural而且通常維持複數用法: we do not often say我們不常說 'a hieroglyphic'「a hieroglyphic」 to mean the whole system來指整套系統. People also stretch it大家也會延伸使用 with a smile帶點玩笑 for any writing they cannot read指任何看不懂的字跡 — a doctor's note, a messy blackboard像是醫生的字條、潦草的黑板.