The sound a clock makes, second after second — 'tick' one way, 'tock' the other. English pairs the two because the sound seems to alternate, and this vowel pattern (i then o) is how English usually builds such pairs: ping-pong, ding-dong, flip-flop.

The sound a clock makes時鐘發出的聲音 second after second一秒接著一秒 'tick' one way, 'tock' the other一邊是'tick'另一邊是'tock' English pairs the two英文把這兩個字湊成一對 because the sound seems to alternate因為這個聲音聽起來像是輪流出現 and this vowel pattern (i then o) is how English usually builds such pairs而這種先i後o的母音模式正是英文常用來造這類疊字的方式 ping-pong, ding-dong, flip-flop像ping-pong、ding-dong、flip-flop

People write it to put an old clock into a scene, and parents say it to small children. It also works as a verb: 'the clock tick-tocked in the empty hall.' Beyond real clocks, saying 'tick-tock' to someone means 'time is running out, hurry up' — a little pushy, sometimes teasing.

People write it to put an old clock into a scene人們用這個字把一個舊時鐘寫進場景裡 and parents say it to small children家長也會對小小孩這樣說 It also works as a verb它也可以當動詞用 'the clock tick-tocked in the empty hall.''the clock tick-tocked in the empty hall'（時鐘在空蕩的大廳裡滴答作響） Beyond real clocks, saying 'tick-tock' to someone除了真的時鐘之外對某人說'tick-tock' means 'time is running out, hurry up'意思是「時間快到了，快點」 a little pushy, sometimes teasing帶點催促有時候是開玩笑

Journalists have their own use: a 'tick-tock' is an article that lays out exactly what happened at each hour of some big event.

Journalists have their own use記者有自己的用法 a 'tick-tock' is an article'tick-tock'是一種文章 that lays out exactly what happened at each hour of some big event逐個小時交代某件大事發生經過的文章

Note that TikTok, the app, is a different thing, spelled differently, though the name plays on this word.

Note that TikTok, the app要注意TikTok這個App is a different thing是完全不同的東西 spelled differently拼法也不一樣 though the name plays on this word雖然名字是在玩這個字的諧音