Imprisonment is the state of being kept in prison, and it is also the stretch of time someone spends there.

Imprisonment Imprisonment is the state of being kept in prison是被關在監獄裡的這種狀態， and it is also the stretch of time someone spends there也是一個人被關在那裡的那段時間。

A judge may give a person 'three years' imprisonment': that is the sentence, the time they must stay locked up. The word is a little formal.

A judge may give a person法官可能會判一個人 'three years' imprisonment' 'three years' imprisonment'（三年徒刑）：that is the sentence那就是刑期， the time they must stay locked up也就是他們必須被關的那段時間。The word is a little formal這個字有點正式。

In everyday talk people more often say 'he is in prison', 'she went to jail', or 'he did time'. You will meet imprisonment in the news, in court, and in history books.

In everyday talk在日常對話裡 people more often say人們更常說 'he is in prison', 'she went to jail', or 'he did time' 'he is in prison'、'she went to jail'，或'he did time'。You will meet imprisonment你會在 in the news, in court, and in history books新聞、法庭，和歷史書裡遇到imprisonment這個字。

Though actually, the tidy picture is always a building with locks, but writers also stretch the word a little — the imprisonment of a people, or of the mind — when they mean someone is trapped and not free to leave. The core idea does not change: you cannot go.

Though actually不過事實上， the tidy picture is always a building with locks大家腦中整齊的畫面總是一棟有鎖的建築， but writers also stretch the word a little但作者也會把這個字稍微延伸一點 — the imprisonment of a people, or of the mind像是一個民族的imprisonment，或心靈的imprisonment — when they mean someone is trapped and not free to leave意思是有人被困住、無法自由離開。The core idea does not change核心的意思不變：you cannot go你就是不能走。