A tomboy is a girl who does the things people expect boys to do — climbing trees, playing football, getting muddy, wearing shorts and trainers instead of dresses. It is usually said warmly, even admiringly, and often by the girl's own family: 'She was a real tomboy at that age.' But you should hear the assumption hiding inside it.

A tomboytomboy is a girl who does the things people expect boys to do是指一個女生會做大家覺得男生才會做的事 climbing trees爬樹 playing football踢足球 getting muddy弄得一身泥 wearing shorts and trainers instead of dresses穿短褲和運動鞋而不穿裙子。It is usually said warmly, even admiringly這句話通常是帶著溫暖，甚至是讚賞的語氣說出來的 and often by the girl's own family而且常常是她自己家人說的 'She was a real tomboy at that age.'「She was a real tomboy at that age（她那時候真的是個男人婆）」 But you should hear the assumption hiding inside it但你應該聽出裡面藏著的預設。

The word only exists because someone decided in advance which games belong to boys, so calling a girl a tomboy quietly says she has crossed a line.

The word only exists because someone decided in advance which games belong to boys這個字之所以存在，是因為有人早就先決定了哪些遊戲是男生的 so calling a girl a tomboy quietly says she has crossed a line所以說一個女生是 tomboy，等於悄悄暗示她越了界。

Younger speakers today are noticeably more careful with it; many would just say she likes sport, or she's not girly, and would not reach for a label at all. The reverse word for a boy, sissy, has never been kind, and that difference tells you something.

Younger speakers today are noticeably more careful with it現在比較年輕的人用這個字明顯更小心 many would just say she likes sport, or she's not girly很多人只會說她喜歡運動，或她不太走女生風 and would not reach for a label at all根本不會去貼標籤。The reverse word for a boy, sissy對應男生的相反詞 sissy has never been kind從來就不是好聽的話 and that difference tells you something這個差異就說明了一些事。

The word is old — it goes back to the 1500s, when Tom was simply a stock name for an ordinary man, the same Tom you see in tomcat.

The word is old這個字很老 it goes back to the 1500s可以追溯到1500年代 when Tom was simply a stock name for an ordinary man那時候 Tom 只是個代表普通男人的常見名字 the same Tom you see in tomcat就跟 tomcat（公貓）裡的那個 Tom 一樣。