A tapeworm is a long, flat parasite that lives inside the gut of a person or an animal, holds on to the wall of the intestine, and feeds on the food passing through. It is called a tapeworm because it is flat and ribbon-like, the shape of a measuring tape, and it can grow surprisingly long — metres, in some kinds.

A tapeworm絛蟲 is a long, flat parasite是一種細長扁平的寄生蟲 that lives inside the gut of a person or an animal,住在人或動物的腸道裡 holds on to the wall of the intestine,附著在腸壁上 and feeds on the food passing through靠吸收經過的食物維生。It is called a tapeworm會叫它 tapeworm because it is flat and ribbon-like,是因為它扁平、像緞帶一樣 the shape of a measuring tape,形狀像捲尺 and it can grow surprisingly long —而且可以長到出乎意料地長— metres, in some kinds有些種類好幾公尺。

People usually get one from undercooked meat or fish, or from dirty water, and it can make them tired, thin, and unwell.

People usually get one人通常會感染它 from undercooked meat or fish, or from dirty water,因為吃了沒煮熟的肉或魚，或喝了不乾淨的水 and it can make them tired, thin, and unwell感染後會讓人疲倦、消瘦、不舒服。

It is a countable noun: a tapeworm, two tapeworms.

It is a countable noun:它是可數名詞: a tapeworm, two tapewormsa tapeworm、two tapeworms。

You will meet the word in health writing, in vet clinics (dogs and cats get them often), and in food-safety warnings about raw meat. It is also used as a rude comparison for a person who lives off others, though that is not common.

You will meet the word你會看到這個詞 in health writing,在健康類文章裡 in vet clinics (dogs and cats get them often),在獸醫診所裡（狗和貓常常感染） and in food-safety warnings about raw meat還有關於生肉的食安警示裡。It is also used as a rude comparison它也可以粗魯地拿來比喻 for a person who lives off others,靠別人過活的人 though that is not common不過這種用法不算常見。