If a machine is hydraulic, a liquid does the heavy pushing. The liquid — often a special oil, not always water — is forced through pipes. Liquid does not squash easily, so a small push on one side can lift a car on the other. Brakes, diggers, dentist chairs, and the jack that lifts a tyre often work this way.

If a machine is hydraulic如果一台機器是hydraulic的 a liquid does the heavy pushing就是靠液體來做那個很重的推動工作 The liquid — often a special oil, not always water這種液體通常是特殊的油，不一定是水 — is forced through pipes是被強力擠壓通過管線的 Liquid does not squash easily液體不容易被壓縮 so a small push on one side can lift a car on the other所以一邊小小一推，就能在另一邊把一台車頂起來 Brakes, diggers, dentist chairs, and the jack that lifts a tyre often work this way煞車、挖土機、牙醫的椅子，還有頂輪胎的千斤頂，常常都是這樣運作的

Though actually the old Greek word was about a water organ: a musical instrument that used water and pipes. Today the liquid is usually oil, so “it runs on water” is a little too tidy — some systems still use water, many do not.

Though actually不過事實上 the old Greek word was about a water organ古希臘文原本講的是一種水風琴 a musical instrument that used water and pipes是一種用水和管子演奏的樂器 Today the liquid is usually oil現在這種液體通常是油 so "it runs on water" is a little too tidy所以說「靠水運作」有點太簡化了 some systems still use water, many do not有些系統還是用水，但多數不是

The word is technical but common on machines and in factory news. Learners almost always meet the adjective: a hydraulic lift, hydraulic brakes. Hydraulic is not electric, and it is not hydroelectric: those are different ways of using power.

The word is technical but common on machines and in factory news這個字很技術性，但在機械和工廠新聞裡很常見 Learners almost always meet the adjective學習者幾乎都是先遇到形容詞用法 a hydraulic lift, hydraulic brakes像是hydraulic lift（液壓升降機）、hydraulic brakes（液壓煞車） Hydraulic is not electric hydraulic不是electric and it is not hydroelectric也不是hydroelectric（水力發電） those are different ways of using power那些是不同的動力運用方式