Kerosene is a clear, thin oil that people burn for heat or light. It goes into lamps, small heaters, and some cooking stoves; aircraft burn a close cousin of it as jet fuel.

Kerosene煤油 is a clear, thin oil是一種清澈、稀薄的油, that people burn for heat or light人們拿它來燃燒取暖或照明。It goes into lamps, small heaters, and some cooking stoves它會用在油燈、小型暖爐，還有一些烹飪爐具裡; aircraft burn a close cousin of it as jet fuel飛機則燃燒它的近親當作噴射燃料。

American English usually says kerosene. British English often says paraffin for the stuff in a heater or lamp — same kind of oil, different everyday name. Though actually, paraffin can also mean the white wax used in candles, so the British word does two jobs and that is a trap.

American English美式英語 usually says kerosene通常說kerosene。British English英式英語 often says paraffin常常說paraffin for the stuff in a heater or lamp來指暖爐或油燈裡用的這種油 — same kind of oil, different everyday name同樣的油，不同的日常說法。Though actually不過其實, paraffin can also mean the white wax used in candles paraffin也可以指蠟燭用的白色蠟, so the British word does two jobs所以這個英式說法身兼兩職, and that is a trap這就是一個容易踩到的陷阱。

The name kerosene was built in the 1800s from a Greek word for wax, and it was trademarked in 1854. An older English name was carbon oil.

The name kerosene這個詞kerosene was built in the 1800s是在十九世紀 from a Greek word for wax從一個希臘文裡指「蠟」的字造出來的, and it was trademarked in 1854並在1854年被註冊為商標。An older English name更早的英文說法 was carbon oil是carbon oil。

It smells; it is dangerous if you drink it or spill it near a flame; and in a modern city you meet it less often than your grandparents did. It is not petrol (gasoline), and it is not cooking oil.

It smells它有味道; it is dangerous if you drink it or spill it near a flame如果喝下去或灑在火源附近就很危險; and in a modern city而在現代城市裡 you meet it less often than your grandparents did你遇到它的機會比你的祖父母那一代少得多。It is not petrol (gasoline)它不是petrol（汽油）, and it is not cooking oil也不是食用油。