The study of society — of people in groups, and of the rules, habits, classes, and powers that shape how they live. Sociology asks questions like: why do rich and poor children end up in different jobs? why do people marry later than before? what happens to a town when the factory closes?

The study of society社會學就是研究社會 — of people in groups研究群體中的人, and of the rules, habits, classes, and powers that shape how they live以及塑造人們生活方式的規則、習慣、階級和權力。Sociology社會學 asks questions like會問像這樣的問題: why do rich and poor children end up in different jobs?為什麼富人和窮人的小孩最後從事不同的工作? why do people marry later than before?為什麼人們結婚得比以前晚? what happens to a town when the factory closes?工廠關閉後一個小鎮會發生什麼事?

It is a school and university subject, and also a way of thinking. In a normal sentence it is uncountable: 'She studies sociology', not 'a sociology'.

It它 is a school and university subject是中學和大學的科目, and also a way of thinking也是一種思考方式。In a normal sentence在一般句子裡 it它 is uncountable是不可數名詞: 'She studies sociology'像「She studies sociology」, not 'a sociology'而不是「a sociology」

Outside the classroom, people use it loosely — 'the sociology of the office' means the unwritten social order of that office, who eats with whom, who is listened to.

Outside the classroom在教室外, people有人 use it loosely把這個字用得比較鬆散 — 'the sociology of the office'像「the sociology of the office」 means the unwritten social order of that office指那間辦公室裡不成文的社交秩序, who eats with whom, who is listened to誰跟誰一起吃飯、誰的話有人聽

Notice that it was invented as a word, in French, by Auguste Comte in 1834; before that, English writers called this kind of work 'social physics', which tells you how much the early founders wanted it to look like a hard science. That ambition is still argued about today.

Notice that值得注意的是 it它 was invented as a word, in French是法文創造出來的字, by Auguste Comte in 1834由孔德在一八三四年發明; before that在那之前, English writers英文作者 called this kind of work 'social physics'把這種研究叫做「social physics（社會物理學）」, which tells you how much the early founders wanted it to look like a hard science這說明早期創始者多麼希望它看起來像一門硬科學。That ambition這個企圖心 is still argued about today至今仍然有人在爭論