Sorcery is magic — but specifically the kind that gets its power from evil, from spirits or forces a person should have left alone. That is the whole point of the word.

Sorcery妖術 is magic是一種魔法 — but specifically the kind不過是特定的一種, that gets its power from evil力量來自邪惡, from spirits or forces a person should have left alone來自一個人本來不該碰的靈體或力量。 That is the whole point of the word這就是這個字的重點所在。

"Magic" is neutral; a card trick is magic. Sorcery never is. It suggests someone reached for power that was not theirs, and that there will be a price.

"Magic"「magic（魔術/魔法）」 is neutral是中性的; a card trick魔術把戲 is magic也是 magic。 Sorcery而 sorcery never is從來都不是中性的。 It suggests它暗示的是 someone reached for power that was not theirs有人伸手拿了不屬於自己的力量, and that there will be a price而且會有代價。

You meet it mostly in fantasy stories, in old religious writing (many religions list sorcery as a serious sin), and in translations of folk tales. It is an uncountable noun: sorcery, not "a sorcery", and you would not say "two sorceries" outside a game where the writers have made it a countable thing on purpose.

You meet it你會 mostly in fantasy stories主要在奇幻故事裡遇到它, in old religious writing以及古老的宗教文獻裡 (many religions list sorcery as a serious sin)（許多宗教把 sorcery 列為重罪）, and in translations of folk tales還有民間故事的翻譯裡。 It is an uncountable noun這是個不可數名詞: sorcery, not "a sorcery"是 sorcery，不是「a sorcery」, and you would not say "two sorceries"你也不會說「two sorceries」 outside a game除非是在遊戲裡 where the writers have made it a countable thing on purpose作者刻意把它設計成可數的東西。

In real conversation, people use it lightly, half joking, for something that works so well it cannot be explained — "how did you get the printer to work? That's pure sorcery." Said that way it is warm, a compliment. The dark meaning is still there underneath, which is exactly why the joke is funny.

In real conversation在真實對話裡, people use it lightly大家會輕鬆地用它, half joking半開玩笑地, for something that works so well it cannot be explained來形容某件事順利到說不出道理 — "how did you get the printer to work?「你是怎麼讓印表機動起來的？ That's pure sorcery."根本是妖術。」 Said that way這樣說的時候 it is warm聽起來很溫暖, a compliment是一種稱讚。 The dark meaning陰暗的那層意思 is still there underneath還是藏在底下, which is exactly why the joke is funny這正是這個玩笑好笑的原因。