Styrofoam is that white, very light plastic foam used for lunch boxes, cups, and the protective blocks packed around a new television. It is light because it is mostly air, and it keeps heat and cold from passing through — which is why hot soup in a Styrofoam bowl stays hot and your hand does not burn.

Styrofoam Styrofoam is that white, very light plastic foam是那種白色、非常輕的塑膠泡棉 used for lunch boxes, cups, and the protective blocks packed around a new television用來做便當盒、杯子，還有包在新電視周圍的緩衝墊. It它會輕 is light because it is mostly air是因為裡面大部分都是空氣, and it keeps heat and cold from passing through而且能隔絕熱跟冷 — which is why hot soup in a Styrofoam bowl stays hot and your hand does not burn這也是為什麼裝在保麗龍碗裡的熱湯會保持熱、而你的手不會燙到.

Here is the interesting part, and it is a good lesson about English generally. Styrofoam is a brand name, owned by a chemical company, and strictly speaking the real product is a blue building material, not the white cups at all. But almost nobody knows or cares. In everyday American English, styrofoam simply means any white foam of that type. This happens over and over in English: a brand name gets so common that it becomes the ordinary word.

Here is the interesting part這裡有個有趣的地方, and it is a good lesson about English generally也是了解英文的一個很好的例子. Styrofoam Styrofoam is a brand name是一個品牌名稱, owned by a chemical company屬於一間化學公司, and strictly speaking而且嚴格說起來 the real product真正的產品 is a blue building material是一種藍色的建築材料, not the white cups at all根本不是那些白色的杯子. But almost nobody knows or cares但幾乎沒有人知道或在意. In everyday American English在美式日常英文裡, styrofoam styrofoam simply means any white foam of that type就是單純指那一類白色泡棉. This happens over and over in English英文裡這種事一再發生: a brand name一個品牌名 gets so common that it becomes the ordinary word會變得太常見，變成一般的字.

Because it is a brand, you will see it written both ways: Styrofoam with a capital S in careful or legal writing, styrofoam with a small s in ordinary use. Both are normal.

Because it is a brand因為它是個品牌, you will see it written both ways你會看到兩種寫法都有: Styrofoam with a capital S在正式或法律文件裡大寫S的 Styrofoam in careful or legal writing, styrofoam with a small s日常用法裡小寫s的 styrofoam in ordinary use. Both are normal兩種都很正常.

The technical name, if you ever need it, is expanded polystyrene, sometimes shortened to EPS. It is a non-count noun. You say 'a piece of styrofoam' or 'a styrofoam cup', not 'two styrofoams'.

The technical name正式的技術名稱, if you ever need it如果你需要用到的話, is expanded polystyrene是 expanded polystyrene（發泡聚苯乙烯）, sometimes shortened to EPS有時候縮寫成 EPS. It它是 is a non-count noun不可數名詞. You你會說 say 'a piece of styrofoam' or 'a styrofoam cup''a piece of styrofoam' 或 'a styrofoam cup', not 'two styrofoams'而不會說 'two styrofoams'.

It also carries an environmental shadow now. It does not break down, it is awkward to recycle, and many places have banned it for food containers — so the word often turns up in news about waste and plastic bans.

It它現在也帶有 also carries an environmental shadow now一種環保上的陰影. It它 does not break down不會分解, it is awkward to recycle回收也很麻煩, and many places have banned it for food containers而且很多地方已經禁止用它做食品容器 — so the word often turns up in news about waste and plastic bans所以這個字常常出現在關於垃圾和禁塑令的新聞裡.