Short for Social Security Number — the nine-digit number the US government gives a person, written like 123-45-6789. You say it letter by letter: S-S-N.

Short for Social Security Number是Social Security Number（社會安全號碼）的縮寫—— the nine-digit number the US government gives a person美國政府發給每個人的九位數字, written like 123-45-6789寫法像123-45-6789這樣. You say it letter by letter你會一個字母一個字母唸: S-S-N.

It started as a number for tracking what you paid in for your retirement money, but over the years it turned into the number that proves who you are in America.

It started as a number for tracking what you paid in for your retirement money它最初是用來追蹤你為退休金繳了多少錢的號碼, but over the years it turned into the number that proves who you are in America但這些年下來，它變成了在美國證明你身分的號碼.

You need it to work, to pay tax, to open a bank account, to rent a home, often to see a doctor.

You need it to work你需要它才能工作, to pay tax繳稅, to open a bank account開銀行帳戶, to rent a home租房子, often to see a doctor通常看醫生也要.

Because it does so much, Americans treat it as a secret: if a stranger gets your SSN they can borrow money in your name. So a real employer will ask for it, but an email or a phone call asking for it is almost always someone trying to cheat you.

Because it does so much因為它的用途這麼廣, Americans treat it as a secret美國人把它當成秘密看待: if a stranger gets your SSN they can borrow money in your name如果陌生人拿到你的SSN，他們可以用你的名字借錢. So a real employer will ask for it所以真正的雇主會跟你要這個號碼, but an email or a phone call asking for it is almost always someone trying to cheat you但一封信或一通電話跟你要這個號碼，幾乎都是有人想騙你.

In everyday speech people often just say "your social" — "Can I get the last four of your social?" — meaning the last four numbers, which is a common way to check identity without giving the whole thing away.

In everyday speech在日常對話裡, people often just say "your social"人們常常直接說『your social』—— "Can I get the last four of your social?"『可以給我你social的後四碼嗎？』—— meaning the last four numbers意思是最後四個數字, which is a common way to check identity without giving the whole thing away這是一種常見的核對身分方式，又不用把整組號碼都給出去.

Taiwan's 身分證字號 does a similar job, but there is one big difference: in Taiwan you show your ID card as a matter of course, while in America saying the number out loud in public makes people nervous.

Taiwan's 身分證字號 does a similar job台灣的身分證字號做的是類似的事, but there is one big difference但有一個很大的不同: in Taiwan you show your ID card as a matter of course在台灣，出示身分證是很平常的事, while in America saying the number out loud in public makes people nervous而在美國，在公開場合把號碼大聲唸出來會讓人緊張.