An MP3 is a computer file that holds music (or other sound) in a small package. The letters stand for MPEG Audio Layer 3 — a way of squeezing sound so it takes up less space, by throwing away bits most ears will not miss.

An MP3一個MP3 is a computer file that holds music (or other sound)是一種存著音樂（或其他聲音）的電腦檔案 in a small package檔案很小。The letters stand for MPEG Audio Layer 3這幾個字母代表MPEG Audio Layer 3 — a way of squeezing sound是一種把聲音壓縮的方法 so it takes up less space讓它占的空間變小，by throwing away bits most ears will not miss靠丟掉大部分耳朵聽不出差別的部分。

In the 1990s and 2000s this is how people passed songs around on the internet, and an “MP3 player” was a little gadget that played these files.

In the 1990s and 2000s在1990到2000年代 this is how people passed songs around on the internet大家就是這樣在網路上互傳歌曲的，and an "MP3 player"而「MP3 player」 was a little gadget that played these files是一種播放這些檔案的小裝置。

Though actually, a lot of what people still call an MP3 is not one any more: phones and apps often use other formats, or they just stream the song and never keep a file.

Though actually不過其實，a lot of what people still call an MP3 is not one any more現在大家還在說的MP3，很多已經不是真的MP3了：phones and apps often use other formats手機和app常常用其他格式，or they just stream the song and never keep a file或是直接串流播放，根本不會留下檔案。

People still say “send me the MP3” to mean “send me the track.” You say it as letters: em-pee-three. It is an ordinary tech word, not fancy and not rude.

People still say "send me the MP3"大家還是會說「send me the MP3」 to mean "send me the track."意思是「把那首歌傳給我」。You say it as letters這個詞是照字母唸的：em-pee-three唸作em-pee-three。It is an ordinary tech word這是個很普通的科技詞，not fancy and not rude不花俏也不粗魯。