A ukulele is a small four-string instrument that looks like a little guitar. It came from Portuguese instruments brought to Hawaii in the 1870s, and Hawaiians made it their own, which is why the sound is tied in most people's minds to beaches and easy, happy songs.

A ukulele is a small four-string instrument烏克麗麗是一種小型的四弦樂器 that looks like a little guitar看起來像一把小吉他。 It came from Portuguese instruments brought to Hawaii in the 1870s它源自一八七○年代葡萄牙人帶到夏威夷的樂器， and Hawaiians made it their own夏威夷人把它變成自己的東西， which is why the sound is tied in most people's minds to beaches and easy, happy songs這也是為什麼大多數人一聽到這個聲音，就會聯想到海灘和輕鬆愉快的歌曲。

It is popular with beginners because the strings are soft nylon, the neck is short, and you can play many songs with three or four simple chords — in Taiwan a great many elementary schools use it in music class for exactly that reason.

It is popular with beginners它很受初學者歡迎 because the strings are soft nylon因為弦是柔軟的尼龍弦， the neck is short琴頸也短， and you can play many songs with three or four simple chords而且只要三、四個簡單和弦就能彈很多歌 — in Taiwan a great many elementary schools use it in music class for exactly that reason在台灣，很多國小音樂課正是因為這樣才用它。

People often shorten it to "uke" (said YOOK) in casual talk among players. Pronunciation is the trap: in English the standard way is yoo-kuh-LAY-lee, though Hawaiians say oo-koo-LEH-leh, and you will hear both.

People often shorten it to大家常把它簡稱為 'uke'「uke」 (said YOOK)（唸作 YOOK） in casual talk among players在玩家間的輕鬆對話裡。 Pronunciation is the trap發音是個陷阱： in English the standard way is yoo-kuh-LAY-lee英文的標準唸法是 yoo-kuh-LAY-lee， though Hawaiians say oo-koo-LEH-leh不過夏威夷人唸 oo-koo-LEH-leh， and you will hear both兩種你都會聽到。