Optics is the name of a science: the study of light and of how we see. It covers why a straw looks bent in a glass of water, how lenses help us read, how a rainbow forms, how cameras and glasses work.

Opticsoptics（光學） is the name of a science是一門科學的名字 the study of light and of how we see研究光和我們如何看東西 It覆蓋的內容 covers why a straw looks bent in a glass of water包括為什麼吸管放進水杯裡看起來是彎的 how lenses help us read鏡片怎麼幫助我們閱讀 how a rainbow forms彩虹怎麼形成 how cameras and glasses work相機和眼鏡怎麼運作

Like physics or mathematics, it is a field of study, so we usually say 'optics is' (one subject), even though the word ends in -s. Students meet it in physics class.

Like physics or mathematics就像physics（物理）或mathematics（數學） it is它是 a field of study一個學科 so we usually say 'optics is' (one subject)所以我們通常會說「optics is」（當成單數） even though the word ends in -s即使這個字是以-s結尾 Students學生 meet it in physics class是在物理課上遇到它的

Though actually, news writers now stretch the word a long way: 'the optics' can mean how a decision looks to the public, even when no light or lens is involved at all. That later use is journalistic and a bit fashionable; the older school meaning is still the science of light.

Though actually不過其實 news writers新聞寫手 now stretch the word a long way現在把這個字延伸得很遠 'the optics'「the optics」 can mean how a decision looks to the public可以指一個決定在大眾眼裡看起來怎樣 even when no light or lens is involved at all即使完全沒有光或鏡片牽涉在裡面 That later use這個後來的用法 is journalistic and a bit fashionable是新聞界的說法，帶點流行感 the older school meaning比較老、學校教的意思 is still the science of light還是指光學這門科學