Perpetuation is the name of the act of making something go on for a long time — especially something we wish would stop.

Perpetuation is the name of the act of making something go on for a long timeperpetuation指的是讓某件事持續很久這個行為 — especially something we wish would stop尤其是我們希望它停止的事

A film can help the perpetuation of a silly idea about a group of people. A cruel joke, a fear, an unfair rule: if it keeps being passed along, that keeping-on is perpetuation.

A film can help the perpetuation of a silly idea about a group of people一部電影可能助長對某群人的荒謬印象一直延續下去. A cruel joke, a fear, an unfair rule一個殘忍的玩笑、一種恐懼、一條不公平的規定: if it keeps being passed along如果它一直被傳下去, that keeping-on is perpetuation那種持續下去就是perpetuation

The verb is perpetuate ("this story perpetuates a myth"); this noun names the keeping-alive itself.

The verb is perpetuate動詞是perpetuate ("this story perpetuates a myth")(『這個故事讓一個迷思延續下去』); this noun names the keeping-alive itself這個名詞指的就是那個延續的狀態本身

It is a serious, rather formal word. You meet it in essays, news, and talk about society, not in chat about watering a plant.

It is a serious, rather formal word這是一個嚴肅、偏正式的詞. You meet it in essays, news, and talk about society你會在論文、新聞和談社會議題時遇到它, not in chat about watering a plant不會用在聊澆花這種閒聊裡

Though actually, people sometimes use it as if the harm were being done on purpose; often nobody sits down and chooses it — the attitude just keeps travelling.

Though actually不過其實, people sometimes use it as if the harm were being done on purpose人們有時候用起來好像傷害是故意造成的; often nobody sits down and chooses it但通常沒有人特別坐下來選擇這麼做 — the attitude just keeps travelling那種態度只是自己一直流傳下去