To spank a child is to hit them on the bottom with an open hand as a punishment. The details matter, because they are what separate this word from hit: it is the bottom, it is an open palm rather than a fist or an object, and it is done as punishment — usually by a parent, usually to a young child. The word also works as a noun: a spank is one such smack, and the action as a whole is spanking, which is the form you will meet most often in reading — "spanking is banned in schools here".

To spank a child is to hit them on the bottom with an open handTo spank a child 是用張開的手掌打小孩的屁股， as a punishment作為一種處罰。The details matter, because they are what separate this word from hit細節很重要，因為正是這些細節把這個字跟 hit 區分開來： it is the bottom打的是屁股， it is an open palm rather than a fist or an object用的是張開的手掌而不是拳頭或工具， and it is done as punishment — usually by a parent, usually to a young child而且是作為處罰進行的——通常是父母對年幼的小孩做的。The word also works as a noun: a spank is one such smack這個字也可以當名詞用：a spank 就是這樣的一下； and the action as a whole is spanking, which is the form you will meet most often in reading整個這種行為叫 spanking，這是你在閱讀裡最常遇到的形式—— spanking is banned in schools here例如「spanking is banned in schools here」(這裡的學校禁止體罰打屁股)。

The social weather around this word has changed enormously, and a learner needs to know that. A century ago spanking was ordinary and openly discussed. Today many countries have made it illegal, most child-development researchers advise against it, and in a lot of places saying you spank your children invites disapproval. So the word carries an argument inside it now. When you see it in a news story or a parenting article, it is usually there because someone is objecting.

The social weather around this word has changed enormously圍繞著這個字的社會氛圍已經改變很多， and a learner needs to know that學習者需要知道這一點。A century ago spanking was ordinary and openly discussed一百年前，spanking 是很平常的事，大家也公開討論。Today many countries have made it illegal今天很多國家已經把它列為非法， most child-development researchers advise against it大多數兒童發展研究者都建議不要這麼做， and in a lot of places saying you spank your children invites disapproval而且在很多地方，說自己會打小孩屁股會招來不認同的眼光。So the word carries an argument inside it now所以這個字現在本身就帶著一場爭論。When you see it in a news story or a parenting article當你在新聞報導或育兒文章裡看到它， it is usually there because someone is objecting通常是因為有人在反對這件事。

Two other uses you may run into. In casual sports talk, to spank a team means to beat them badly — "we got spanked 5-0". And the word turns up in adult sexual contexts too, which is worth knowing quietly so that you are not caught out; it means you should not use spank as a playful joke between adults unless you are sure of your ground.

Two other uses you may run into你可能還會遇到另外兩種用法。In casual sports talk在輕鬆的運動用語裡， to spank a team means to beat them badlyto spank a team 的意思是把一支隊伍打得很慘—— we got spanked 5-0例如「we got spanked 5-0」(我們5比0慘敗)。And the word turns up in adult sexual contexts too而且這個字也會出現在成人的性方面語境裡—— which is worth knowing quietly so that you are not caught out這點值得默默記住，免得自己被搞得措手不及—— it means you should not use spank as a playful joke between adults unless you are sure of your ground意思是，除非你很確定場合，不然不要把 spank 拿來當成大人之間開玩笑的話。

One last note on register: it is an everyday word, not a formal one. A law or a report would more likely say corporal punishment or physical punishment.

One last note on register最後說一下語域： it is an everyday word, not a formal one這是一個日常用字，不是正式用語。A law or a report would more likely say法律條文或報告比較可能會說 corporal punishment or physical punishmentcorporal punishment(體罰)或 physical punishment(肢體處罰)。