Karat is the American spelling of carat, but in real American life the two spellings have drifted apart. When Americans write karat, they almost always mean gold: how much of a ring or chain is pure gold.

Karat isKarat是 the American spelling of caratcarat的美式拼法, but in real American life但在美國實際生活裡, the two spellings have drifted apart這兩種拼法已經分家了。When Americans write karat美國人寫karat時, they almost always mean gold幾乎都是在講黃金: how much of a ring or chain is pure gold一只戒指或項鍊裡有多少純金成分。

Pure gold is 24 karat. 18-karat gold is 18 parts gold out of 24, mixed with other metal, so it is less yellow and stands up better to daily wear; 14-karat and 10-karat are more mixed still, and cheaper. Shops often just print K, as in 18K.

Pure gold is 24 karat純金是24 karat。18-karat gold is18-karat的金子是 18 parts gold out of 2424份裡有18份是金, mixed with other metal混了其他金屬, so it is less yellow所以顏色比較不那麼黃 and stands up better to daily wear也比較耐日常配戴; 14-karat and 10-karat are more mixed still14-karat和10-karat混得更多, and cheaper也更便宜。Shops often just print K店家通常只印K, as in 18K像18K這樣。

Though actually, the tidy line “American spelling of carat” hides a split: Americans keep carat for the weight of a diamond or other gem, and karat for the gold mix. British English uses carat for both, which is why learners mash them together.

Though actually不過實際上, the tidy line "American spelling of carat" hides a split「carat的美式拼法」這種簡單說法藏著一個區分: Americans keep carat for the weight of a diamond or other gem美國人用carat講鑽石或其他寶石的重量, and karat for the gold mixkarat則用在黃金成色上。British English uses carat for both英式英文兩種都用carat, which is why learners mash them together這也是學習者容易把兩者混在一起的原因。

Careful American writing will not call a diamond a “2-karat stone.”

Careful American writing will not call講究的美式寫作不會稱 a diamond一顆鑽石 a "2-karat stone."為「2-karat stone」。