A semiconductor is a material that carries electricity in a controlled, in-between way. Silicon is the one inside almost every phone, computer, and memory stick. Metals conduct freely; insulators almost never do; semiconductors can be built into tiny switches. That is why the word is everywhere in Taiwan: “the semiconductor industry” means chip-making, not a pile of raw silicon.

A semiconductor is a material半導體是一種材料 that carries electricity in a controlled, in-between way以一種受控制、介於中間的方式導電 Silicon is the one矽就是那種材料 inside almost every phone, computer, and memory stick幾乎每支手機、電腦、隨身碟裡都有 Metals conduct freely金屬自由導電 insulators almost never do絕緣體幾乎完全不導電 semiconductors can be built into tiny switches而半導體可以做成微小的開關 That is why the word is everywhere in Taiwan這就是為什麼這個字在台灣到處都是 "the semiconductor industry" means chip-making「半導體產業」指的是晶片製造 not a pile of raw silicon不是一堆原料矽

Though actually, calling it “semi” (half a conductor) is a school shortcut. The point is not that it is simply weaker than copper. The point is that we can tune it.

Though actually不過其實 calling it "semi" (half a conductor)把它叫做「semi」（一半的導體） is a school shortcut只是學校教學上的簡化說法 The point is not that it is simply weaker than copper重點不是它只是導電能力比銅弱 The point is that we can tune it重點是我們可以調整它的特性

Early devices used germanium; some lights and high-speed parts use other compounds. For a learner, keep one picture: the stuff chips are cut from, sitting between “flows easily” and “hardly flows”.

Early devices used germanium早期的元件用鍺 some lights and high-speed parts use other compounds有些發光元件和高速零件則用其他化合物 For a learner, keep one picture對學習者來說，記住一個畫面就好 the stuff chips are cut from晶片就是從這種材料切出來的 sitting between "flows easily" and "hardly flows"它介於「很好導電」和「幾乎不導電」之間