Ostracism is what happens when a group shuts someone out. They do not have to shout or hit. They simply refuse to treat that person as one of them: no invitations, no talk, no place at the table. A class, a workplace, or a village can all do this.

Ostracism是 what happens when a group shuts someone out一個團體把某人排除在外時發生的事。 They do not have to shout or hit他們不需要大吼大叫或動手。 They simply refuse to treat that person as one of them他們只是不再把那個人當自己人看待: no invitations不邀請, no talk不跟他說話, no place at the table餐桌上也沒有他的位子。 A class, a workplace, or a village can all do this一個班級、一個職場，或一個村子，都可能這樣做。

The feeling is “you do not belong here any more.” Though actually, the word has a sharper, older life too.

The feeling is “you do not belong here any more.”那種感覺就是「你已經不屬於這裡了」。 Though actually不過其實, the word has a sharper, older life too這個詞還有一個更尖銳、更古老的用法。

In ancient Athens, citizens could vote to send a man away from the city for ten years. They scratched his name on bits of broken pot, and if enough votes came in, he had to leave.

In ancient Athens在古雅典, citizens could vote to send a man away from the city for ten years公民可以投票把一個人趕出城市十年。 They scratched his name on bits of broken pot他們會把他的名字刻在破陶片上, and if enough votes came in如果票數夠多, he had to leave他就得離開。

That official banishment is the first meaning; the looser everyday meaning — cold-shouldering someone — grew from it. History teachers still use the old sense; most other people mean the social one.

That official banishment is the first meaning那個正式的放逐是最初的意思; the looser everyday meaning而比較鬆散的日常意思 — cold-shouldering someone也就是冷落某人 — grew from it就是從那裡演變出來的。 History teachers still use the old sense歷史老師還是會用最初的那個意思; most other people mean the social one但大多數人講的是社交上的那個意思。

It is a rather formal noun. In ordinary talk, people more often say they were shut out or left out; ostracism turns up in news, essays, and serious conversation.

It is a rather formal noun它是個相當正式的名詞。 In ordinary talk在一般對話裡, people more often say they were shut out or left out大家比較常說自己被排擠或被冷落; ostracism turns up in news, essays, and serious conversation ostracism這個字則出現在新聞、文章，或比較正式的對話裡。