Luminescence is a soft light that comes out of something without fire, and without the thing getting hot the way a lamp or a flame does. A firefly does this. So do glow-sticks, some sea animals, and some paints and watch-faces that shine in the dark.

Luminescence is a soft lightluminescence是一種柔和的光 that comes out of something從東西裡發出來 without fire不需要火 and without the thing getting hot那東西也不會變熱 the way a lamp or a flame does不像燈泡或火焰那樣. A firefly does this螢火蟲就是這樣發光的. So do glow-sticks, some sea animals螢光棒、有些海洋生物也是, and some paints and watch-faces that shine in the dark還有一些會在暗處發光的漆和錶面.

Scientists use luminescence as the big covering word: light is there, but heat is not why. Everyday English usually just says glow; you will meet luminescence in science class, on packets, and in nature films more than in chat.

Scientists use luminescence as the big covering word科學家把luminescence當成一個大的統稱: light is there光是有的, but heat is not why但發光的原因不是熱. Everyday English usually just says glow日常英文通常就說glow（發光）就好; you will meet luminescence in science class, on packets, and in nature films你會在自然課、包裝上、自然生態影片裡遇到luminescence more than in chat而不是在聊天裡.

Though actually, people often say fluorescent for all of this, and that is a bit too neat. Fluorescence is only one kind — it shines while energy is still going in, then stops. Another kind keeps shining after the energy stops. Both sit under luminescence.

Though actually不過其實 people often say fluorescent for all of this大家常常把這一切都說成fluorescent（螢光的）, and that is a bit too neat這樣講有點太簡化了. Fluorescence is only one kindfluorescence只是其中一種 — it shines while energy is still going in它只在能量持續輸入時才發光, then stops一停止輸入就不亮了. Another kind另一種 keeps shining after the energy stops在能量停止之後還會繼續發光. Both sit under luminescence這兩種都算在luminescence底下.