When something is obsolete, people have mostly stopped using it because a newer thing does the job better. A machine, a tool, a skill, even an idea can be obsolete.

When當 something某個東西 is obsolete過時了, people人們 have mostly stopped using it大多已經不再使用它 because因為 a newer thing一個更新的東西 does the job better做得更好。A machine機器, a tool工具, a skill技能, even甚至 an idea一個想法 can be obsolete都可能過時。

We say it most about technology: a phone from a few years ago still works, though actually shops and ads will call it obsolete the minute a shinier one appears. The tidy meaning is “no longer useful”; the looser everyday meaning is just “out of date” or “we do not bother with that any more.” It is a fairly formal word, but news and product pages use it a lot.

We say我們最常拿 it most about technology來說科技產品: a phone一支手機 from a few years ago幾年前買的 still works還能用, though actually不過事實上 shops and ads店家和廣告 will call it obsolete就會說它過時了 the minute只要 a shinier one一款更亮眼的新機 appears一出現。The tidy meaning嚴謹一點的意思是 is “no longer useful”「不再有用」; the looser日常較鬆散的意思 everyday meaning is just就只是「過時了」 “out of date” or或「我們不再理它了」 “we do not bother with that any more.” It它 is是 a fairly formal word一個相當正式的字, but但 news and product pages新聞和商品頁面 use it用得很多 a lot。

There is also a verb, to obsolete something, meaning to push it out of use — you hear that in business more than at the dinner table.

There是還有 is also a verb一個動詞, to obsolete something意思是把某樣東西, meaning to push it out of use淘汰掉、不再使用——you你 hear that聽到這種用法 in business在商業場合比較多 more than at the dinner table比在餐桌上聊天多。