A telethon is a very long television programme, often running many hours or right through the night, made to collect money for a charity or for people hit by a disaster.

A telethon is a very long television programme是一種很長的電視節目，often running many hours or right through the night常常長達好幾個小時、甚至整晚，made to collect money目的是要募款，for a charity or for people hit by a disaster給慈善機構或受災的人。

Famous singers, comedians and actors come on to perform, and between the acts they ask viewers at home to phone in and give. A number appears on the screen, volunteers answer the phones, and a running total climbs as the hours pass.

Famous singers, comedians and actors知名歌手、諧星和演員come on to perform會上場表演，and between the acts表演與表演之間they ask viewers at home他們會請在家看電視的觀眾to phone in and give打電話進來捐款。A number appears on the screen螢幕上會出現一個電話號碼，volunteers answer the phones志工負責接電話，and a running total climbs募款的總金額會一直往上跳，as the hours pass隨著時間過去。

The word is mostly American in origin but is understood everywhere, and the same format exists in many countries — Britain's Comic Relief and Children in Need nights are telethons even when people do not use the word.

The word is mostly American in origin這個字大部分是美國起源的，but is understood everywhere但到處的人都聽得懂，and the same format exists in many countries而且同樣的形式在很多國家都有，Britain's Comic Relief and Children in Need nights英國的Comic Relief和Children in Need這些募款晚會are telethons其實就是telethon，even when people do not use the word即使大家不會用這個字來稱呼它。

It is a countable noun: 'a telethon', 'two telethons'. People sometimes stretch it playfully to any exhaustingly long broadcast or session, but the money-raising heart is what makes it a telethon.

It is a countable noun這是一個可數名詞：'a telethon', 'two telethons'像 'a telethon'一場、'two telethons'兩場這樣數。People sometimes stretch it playfully有時候大家會開玩笑地把這個字用寬鬆一點，to any exhaustingly long broadcast or session指任何累死人的超長播出或活動，but the money-raising heart但募款這個核心is what makes it a telethon才是讓它稱得上telethon的關鍵。