If someone looks peaky, they look pale and a bit unwell — the face has lost its colour, the person seems tired or washed out, as if they are coming down with something or have not eaten properly.

If someone looks peaky如果有人看起來peaky（氣色不好） they look pale and a bit unwell就是臉色蒼白、有點不舒服 the face has lost its colour臉上失去了血色 the person seems tired or washed out看起來很累或沒精神 as if they are coming down with something好像快要生病了 or have not eaten properly或是沒有好好吃飯

It is a gentle, homely, informal word, the kind an older relative uses: 'You're looking a bit peaky, love — sit down, I'll make you some soup.' Three things to notice about how it is really used.

It is a gentle, homely, informal word這是個溫和、家常、口語的詞 the kind an older relative uses是長輩會用的說法 'You're looking a bit peaky, love — sit down, I'll make you some soup.'像是「你看起來有點peaky呢，親愛的——坐下吧，我煮點湯給你。」 Three things to notice about how it is really used關於這個字實際怎麼用有三點要注意

First, it is far commoner in British and Irish English than American; many Americans know it but would say 'pale' or 'washed out'.

First第一 it is far commoner in British and Irish English than American這個字在英式和愛爾蘭英語裡比美式常見很多 many Americans know it很多美國人知道這個字 but would say 'pale' or 'washed out'但會說'pale'（蒼白）或'washed out'（沒血色）

Second, it is nearly always softened — 'a bit peaky', 'a little peaky' — because it is a kind remark, not a diagnosis, and saying someone is 'very peaky' sounds odd.

Second第二 it is nearly always softened這個字幾乎總是會被放輕語氣 'a bit peaky', 'a little peaky'像'a bit peaky'、'a little peaky' because it is a kind remark, not a diagnosis因為這是一句關心的話而不是診斷 and saying someone is 'very peaky' sounds odd說someone is'very peaky'反而聽起來很怪

Third, it goes with looking or seeming: 'you look peaky', 'he seemed peaky', rather than 'I am peaky'. It describes how you appear to someone else.

Third第三 it goes with looking or seeming這個字會搭配looking或seeming用 'you look peaky', 'he seemed peaky'像'you look peaky'、'he seemed peaky' rather than 'I am peaky'而不會說'I am peaky' It describes how you appear to someone else它描述的是你在別人眼中看起來的樣子

It also leans older; younger speakers use it less, so hearing it often marks the speaker's generation or a warm, family setting.

It also leans older這個字也偏年長者用語 younger speakers use it less年輕人比較少用 so hearing it often marks the speaker's generation所以聽到這個字常常透露出說話者的年紀 or a warm, family setting或是一種溫暖的家庭氣氛

And it is mild — a peaky person is off-colour, not seriously ill.

And it is mild而且這個字語氣很輕 a peaky person is off-colour一個peaky的人只是氣色不好 not seriously ill不是病得很嚴重