Suburbia means the suburbs taken all together — not one particular suburb, but the whole world of them, and, more than that, the way of life that goes with them. When somebody says suburbia they are usually thinking of rows of similar houses, quiet streets, gardens, shopping malls, families with children, cars in every driveway, and a certain calm sameness.

Suburbiasuburbia這個字 means the suburbs taken all together意思是把所有郊區加起來看 not one particular suburb不是指某一個特定的郊區 but the whole world of them而是它們整個的世界 and, more than that, the way of life that goes with them而且不只如此，還包括跟著這種郊區而來的生活方式。When somebody says suburbia當有人說 suburbia 時 they are usually thinking of rows of similar houses他們通常想到的是一排排相似的房子 quiet streets安靜的街道 gardens花園 shopping malls購物商場 families with children有小孩的家庭 cars in every driveway每戶車道上都有車 and a certain calm sameness還有一種平靜、千篇一律的感覺。

It is an uncountable noun and takes no article: people say "life in suburbia," never "a suburbia" or "the suburbia." That is worth noticing, because it behaves more like the name of a country than like an ordinary noun — which is exactly the joke inside the word. It treats the suburbs as if they were one imaginary place you could move to.

It is an uncountable noun and takes no article它是不可數名詞，前面不加冠詞 people say "life in suburbia,"大家會說「life in suburbia」 never "a suburbia" or "the suburbia."而不會說「a suburbia」或「the suburbia」 That is worth noticing這點值得注意 because it behaves more like the name of a country than like an ordinary noun因為它的用法比較像一個國名，而不是普通名詞 which is exactly the joke inside the word這正是這個字裡藏的一個小玩笑。It treats the suburbs它把所有郊區 as if they were one imaginary place you could move to當成一個你可以搬去的、想像出來的單一地方。

The feeling attached to it is usually mild disapproval: safe, comfortable, respectable, and rather boring, with everyone watching what the neighbours think. Novels, films and songs have used it that way for decades, and phrases like "the boredom of suburbia" or "escape from suburbia" are very common.

The feeling attached to it is usually mild disapproval附帶的情緒通常是輕微的不以為然 safe, comfortable, respectable, and rather boring安全、舒適、體面，但相當無聊 with everyone watching what the neighbours think而且大家都在意鄰居怎麼想。Novels, films and songs have used it that way for decades小說、電影和歌曲幾十年來都這樣用這個字 and phrases like "the boredom of suburbia" or "escape from suburbia" are very common像「the boredom of suburbia（郊區的無聊）」或「escape from suburbia（逃離郊區）」這樣的說法很常見。

But it is not always an insult. Writers also use it plainly for a real social fact — "suburbia grew rapidly after the war" — and some people say it warmly, with affection for a quiet childhood. You have to listen to the sentence around it to know which one you are getting.

But it is not always an insult不過它不一定是罵人的話。Writers also use it plainly for a real social fact作家也會單純用它指一個真實的社會現象 "suburbia grew rapidly after the war"「suburbia grew rapidly after the war（戰後郊區快速發展）」 and some people say it warmly有些人講起來語氣還很溫暖 with affection for a quiet childhood帶著對安靜童年的懷念。You have to listen to the sentence around it你得聽懂前後句子 to know which one you are getting才知道遇到的是哪一種。