Metabolism is the set of chemical processes by which your body changes food into energy you can use, and into the bits it needs to grow, heal, and keep warm. It also breaks down old material and clears it away.

Metabolism新陳代謝 is the set of chemical processes by which your body changes food into energy you can use是身體把食物轉換成你能用的能量的一連串化學過程, and into the bits it needs to grow, heal, and keep warm也轉換成身體生長、修復、保暖所需要的材料。It它 also breaks down old material and clears it away也會分解舊的物質並清除掉

People often talk about a “fast” or “slow” metabolism, meaning the body seems to burn energy quickly or slowly. Though actually, that everyday picture is tidier than the truth: metabolism is many jobs together, not one speed switch inside you.

People有人 often talk about a "fast" or "slow" metabolism常說「代謝快」或「代謝慢」, meaning the body seems to burn energy quickly or slowly意思是身體好像燃燒能量的速度比較快或比較慢。Though actually不過其實, that everyday picture這個日常的說法 is tidier than the truth比真實情況整齊多了: metabolism新陳代謝 is many jobs together是很多工作加在一起, not one speed switch inside you不是你體內一個速度開關

Scientists sometimes group the work into building-up and breaking-down.

Scientists科學家 sometimes group the work into building-up and breaking-down有時候會把這些工作分成合成和分解兩類

You will meet the word in health class, at the doctor’s, and in diet talk. It began as a science word, but it has walked into ordinary conversation. Plants and other living things have a metabolism too, not only people.

You你 will meet the word in health class, at the doctor's, and in diet talk會在健康課、看醫生、談飲食的時候遇到這個字。It它 began as a science word一開始是個科學用詞, but it has walked into ordinary conversation不過已經走入日常對話。Plants and other living things植物和其他生物 have a metabolism too也有新陳代謝, not only people不是只有人類才有