A preservative is a substance put into something so it does not go bad so quickly — food in a packet, or wood so it does not rot.

A preservative isPreservative是 a substance put into something加進某樣東西裡的物質 so it does not go bad so quickly讓它不會那麼快壞掉——food in a packet像是包裝食品，or wood so it does not rot或讓木頭不會腐爛。

On food labels you will see the word; some shoppers try to avoid “preservatives” and buy fresh. Though actually, almost all long-life food has some, and salt, sugar, and vinegar are old, ordinary preservatives too, not only factory chemicals.

On food labels you will see the word在食品標示上你會看到這個字；some shoppers try to avoid "preservatives" and buy fresh有些消費者會盡量避開「preservatives」，改買新鮮的。Though actually不過其實，almost all long-life food has some幾乎所有耐放的食物都含有一些，and salt, sugar, and vinegar are old, ordinary preservatives too, not only factory chemicals而鹽、糖、醋也都是古老、平凡的preservatives，不只是工廠化學品。

The word is also an adjective: a preservative chemical. It is a practical, slightly technical word you meet in shops and on packaging more than in stories.

The word is also an adjective這個字也可以當形容詞：a preservative chemicala preservative chemical。It is a practical, slightly technical word它是個實用、有點技術性的字 you meet in shops and on packaging more than in stories你比較會在商店和包裝上看到，而不是在故事裡。

Do not mix it up with a preservationist (a person who saves old buildings) or with jam called a preserve.

Do not mix it up with a preservationist不要把它跟preservationist搞混 (a person who saves old buildings)（保存老建築的人），or with jam called a preserve也不要跟叫做preserve的果醬搞混。