Cut into a series of flat, level steps going up a slope. Instead of one long hillside running downhill, you get a stack of narrow flat shelves, one above the other, like wide stairs. Farmers do this so that rain and soil stay on the land instead of washing away, and so that the flat parts can hold water — which is exactly what rice needs.

Cut into a series of flat, level steps被切成一階階平坦的台階 going up a slope沿著斜坡往上。 Instead of one long hillside running downhill不是一整片往下滑的長山坡， you get a stack of narrow flat shelves而是一疊窄窄的平台， one above the other一層疊一層， like wide stairs像加寬的樓梯。 Farmers do this農民這樣做， so that rain and soil stay on the land instead of washing away是為了讓雨水和土壤留在地上、不會被沖走， and so that the flat parts can hold water也讓平坦的部分能積水 — which is exactly what rice needs而這正是稻米需要的。

'Terraced rice fields' or 'terraced paddies' is the phrase you will meet most. Gardens get the same treatment on a smaller scale: 'a terraced garden' has flat planted levels held up by low walls. The word is an adjective, almost always sitting in front of a noun: terraced fields, terraced slopes, terraced hillsides, a terraced vineyard.

'Terraced rice fields' or 'terraced paddies'「terraced rice fields」或「terraced paddies」 is the phrase you will meet most是你最常遇到的說法，也就是梯田。 Gardens get the same treatment on a smaller scale花園也可以用同樣的方式，只是規模較小： 'a terraced garden'「a terraced garden」 has flat planted levels held up by low walls有一層層由矮牆撐起的平坦種植台。 The word is an adjective, almost always sitting in front of a noun這個字是形容詞，幾乎都放在名詞前面： terraced fields, terraced slopes, terraced hillsides, a terraced vineyardterraced fields（梯田）、terraced slopes（梯狀坡地）、terraced hillsides（梯狀山坡）、a terraced vineyard（梯狀葡萄園）。

There is also a verb behind it, 'to terrace' a hillside, but you meet the -ed form far more often.

There is also a verb behind it背後也有一個動詞， 'to terrace' a hillside「to terrace」一座山坡（把山坡闢成梯田）， but you meet the -ed form far more often不過 -ed 形式的 terraced 常見得多。

One thing to know: in British English, 'terraced' also describes houses. A 'terraced house' is one in a long unbroken row, sharing side walls with its neighbours — the classic street of identical brick houses. That is a completely different picture from the hillside one, and it is very common in Britain.

One thing to know有一件事要知道： in British English, 'terraced' also describes houses在英式英文裡，terraced 也可以用來形容房子。 A 'terraced house'「a terraced house」 is one in a long unbroken row是一整排連在一起的房子中的一間， sharing side walls with its neighbours和鄰居共用側牆 — the classic street of identical brick houses就是那種一整條街長得一模一樣的磚房。 That is a completely different picture from the hillside one這和山坡梯田的畫面完全不同， and it is very common in Britain而且在英國非常常見。

Americans say 'row house' instead. So when you meet 'terraced', check whether you are looking at a hill or a street.

Americans say美國人會說 'row house'「row house」 instead來代替。 So when you meet 'terraced'所以看到 terraced 這個字時， check whether you are looking at a hill or a street要確認自己看的是山坡還是街道。