A semi-final is one of the last games before the final. There are usually two semi-finals. The winner of each one goes through, and those two winners then play each other to decide who wins the whole cup or competition. Sports reporters say it all the time; in that world it is an ordinary word, not a fancy one.

A semi-final是 before the final決賽之前 the last games最後幾場比賽 one of的其中一場。 There are usually通常有 two semi-finals兩場準決賽。 each one每一場 The winner of的勝者 goes through晉級， and those two winners然後那兩個勝者 then play each other再互相對打， to decide來決定 who wins誰拿下 the whole cup or competition整個盃賽或整個比賽。 Sports reporters體育記者 say it all the time整天在說它； in that world在那個圈子裡 it它 is an ordinary word是個平常字， not a fancy one不是花俏字。

People write semi-final or semifinal. British English likes the hyphen; American English often joins it into one word.

People write人們會寫 semi-final or或 semifinal。 British English英式英文 likes喜歡 the hyphen連字號； American English美式英文 often常常 joins it into one word把它連成一個字。

Though actually, you need two of them. If you hear “the semi-final” in the singular, it still means one of those two matches, not some extra secret round.

Though actually不過其實， you你 need需要 two of them兩場。 If you hear如果你聽到 in the singular單數的 "the semi-final"， it它 still means仍然是指 those two matches那兩場比賽 one of之中的一場， not some extra secret round不是什麼多出來的祕密輪次。

The step before is often the quarter-final (eight players or teams left). After the semis, only the final is left.

The step before前一步 is often常常是 the quarter-final八強賽 (eight players or teams left)（剩八個選手或八支隊伍）。 After the semis準決賽之後， only the final就只有決賽 is left還留著。