A Q-tip is a short stick, usually plastic or paper, with a little puff of cotton on each end. People use it to clean the outer ear, to put on makeup, or to dab something small.

A Q-tip是 a short stick一根短短的棒子，usually plastic or paper通常是塑膠或紙做的，with a little puff of cotton on each end兩端各有一小撮棉花。People use it to clean the outer ear人們用它來清潔外耳，to put on makeup上妝，or to dab something small或沾一點小東西。

The name is American: it began as the brand Q-Tips, and the Q was meant to stand for quality; tip is the cotton end. In the US many people say Q-tip for any such stick, even other brands, the way some people say Kleenex for any tissue. In Britain the everyday word is cotton bud. In Taiwan nobody says Q-tip in daily life.

The name is American這個名字是美國來的：it began as the brand Q-Tips它原本是品牌名 Q-Tips，and the Q was meant to stand for quality這個 Q 原本是要代表 quality（品質），tip is the cotton endtip 指的就是棉花那一端。In the US在美國 many people say Q-tip for any such stick很多人不管什麼牌子都叫它 Q-tip，even other brands就算是別的牌子也一樣，the way some people say Kleenex for any tissue就像有些人不管什麼牌子的面紙都叫 Kleenex 一樣。In Britain在英國 the everyday word is cotton bud日常說法是 cotton bud。In Taiwan在台灣 nobody says Q-tip in daily life日常生活沒有人講 Q-tip。

Though actually, doctors often warn you not to push it down into the ear hole, because that can push wax further in or hurt the eardrum — the outer ear is as far as it should go.

Though actually不過事實上 doctors often warn you not to push it down into the ear hole醫生常提醒不要把它伸進耳道裡，because that can push wax further in or hurt the eardrum因為這樣可能把耳垢推得更裡面，或傷到耳膜——the outer ear is as far as it should go只能停在外耳這裡就好。