Number 13 in an order — the one that comes after the twelfth. Written short as 13th.

Number 13 in an order順序中的第13 — the one that comes after the twelfth在第十二個之後的那個。 Written short as 13th簡寫成13th。

You use it in three ways. First, before a noun: 'my thirteenth birthday', 'the thirteenth floor', 'the thirteenth of May'. Second, on its own with 'the', when we both know what we are counting: 'She was the thirteenth to arrive.' Third — and students forget this one — it can mean one piece out of thirteen equal pieces: 'a thirteenth of the total'. Same word, quite a different job.

You use it in three ways你會用它三種方式。 First, before a noun第一種,放在名詞前面: 'my thirteenth birthday', 'the thirteenth floor', 'the thirteenth of May'「my thirteenth birthday我的十三歲生日」、「the thirteenth floor十三樓」、「the thirteenth of May五月十三日」。 Second, on its own with 'the', when we both know what we are counting第二種,單獨跟「the」一起用,在我們都知道在數什麼的時候: 'She was the thirteenth to arrive.'「She was the thirteenth to arrive她是第十三個到的。」 Third — and students forget this one第三種——學生常常忘記這一種, it can mean one piece out of thirteen equal pieces它可以表示十三等份裡的一份: 'a thirteenth of the total'「a thirteenth of the total總數的十三分之一」。 Same word, quite a different job同一個字,做的卻是很不一樣的工作。

In dates, British people write '13 May' and say 'the thirteenth of May'; Americans write 'May 13' and say 'May thirteenth'. Notice that we say 'the' in speech even when it is not written.

In dates, British people write '13 May' and say 'the thirteenth of May'在日期上,英式英文會寫「13 May」,唸成「the thirteenth of May五月十三日」; Americans write 'May 13' and say 'May thirteenth'美式英文會寫「May 13」,唸成「May thirteenth五月十三」。 Notice that we say 'the' in speech even when it is not written注意就算沒寫出來,講的時候還是會說「the」。

One small thing worth knowing about life in English-speaking places: many people think 13 is unlucky, so some hotels and tall buildings have no thirteenth floor — the lift goes 12, 14. This is much like some buildings here skipping the fourth floor.

One small thing worth knowing about life in English-speaking places有一件關於英語系國家生活的小事值得知道: many people think 13 is unlucky很多人認為13不吉利, so some hotels and tall buildings have no thirteenth floor所以有些飯店和高樓沒有十三樓 — the lift goes 12, 14電梯是12樓接著14樓。 This is much like some buildings here skipping the fourth floor這有點像這裡有些建築物跳過四樓一樣。