Ulysses is the Roman name for the Greek hero Odysseus — the clever king in the old stories who fought at Troy and then spent ten years trying to sail home to his wife and son. Same man, two names: the Greeks called him Odysseus, the Romans called him Ulysses, and English took both.

Ulysses is the Roman name for the Greek hero OdysseusUlysses是羅馬人對希臘英雄Odysseus的稱呼 — the clever king in the old stories who fought at Troy就是那個在古老故事裡在特洛伊打過仗的聰明國王, and then spent ten years trying to sail home to his wife and son後來花了十年想要航海回家找妻兒. Same man, two names同一個人，兩個名字: the Greeks called him Odysseus, the Romans called him Ulysses希臘人叫他Odysseus，羅馬人叫他Ulysses, and English took both英語兩個都收下來用

Which one you meet depends on which book you are reading. Older English writers (Shakespeare, Tennyson) say Ulysses; modern translations of Homer usually say Odysseus. If a student says "Ulysses and Odysseus are two different heroes", that is a very common mistake — they are one person.

Which one you meet depends on which book you are reading你會遇到哪一個名字，要看你在讀哪一本書. Older English writers (Shakespeare, Tennyson) say Ulysses比較早期的英語作家（像莎士比亞、丁尼生）會說Ulysses, modern translations of Homer usually say Odysseus現代翻譯荷馬的版本通常說Odysseus. If a student says "Ulysses and Odysseus are two different heroes"如果學生說「Ulysses和Odysseus是兩個不同的英雄」, that is a very common mistake這是很常見的錯誤, they are one person他們其實是同一個人

He is famous not for being strong but for being smart and tricky. The wooden horse at Troy was his idea. So when English speakers call someone "a Ulysses", they mean someone clever who talks their way out of trouble, though this is quite bookish and you will not hear it in daily conversation.

He is famous not for being strong but for being smart and tricky他出名不是因為強壯，而是因為聰明、狡猾. The wooden horse at Troy was his idea特洛伊的木馬就是他的點子. So when English speakers call someone "a Ulysses"所以英語使用者說某人是「a Ulysses」時, they mean someone clever who talks their way out of trouble是指這人聰明、能靠嘴皮子脫身, though this is quite bookish and you will not hear it in daily conversation不過這種說法很書面，日常對話不會聽到

Two other uses you may meet: Ulysses is also the title of a very famous, very difficult novel by James Joyce (1922), set in one single day in Dublin — people mention it as the classic example of a book everyone owns but nobody finishes. And Ulysses S. Grant was an American general and later president, whose face is on the fifty-dollar bill.

Two other uses you may meet你還可能遇到另外兩種用法: Ulysses is also the title of a very famous, very difficult novel by James Joyce (1922)Ulysses也是喬伊斯（1922年）一本非常有名、非常難讀的小說書名, set in one single day in Dublin故事設定在都柏林的某一天之內, people mention it as the classic example of a book everyone owns but nobody finishes大家提到它，常常是拿它當「人人都有一本、卻沒人讀完」的經典例子. And Ulysses S.而尤利西斯·S. Grant was an American general and later president格蘭特是一位美國將軍，後來當上總統, whose face is on the fifty-dollar bill他的臉像就印在五十美元鈔票上