A veterinarian is an animal doctor — someone who studied medicine for animals at university and is licensed to examine them, work out what is wrong, give medicine, do operations, give vaccinations, and, when an animal is suffering with no hope, end its life gently. Most people meet one because of a pet: a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a bird. But veterinarians also work with farm animals, horses, zoo animals, and wild animals, and some work in laboratories or for the government checking that meat and animal diseases are under control.

A veterinarian is an animal doctor獸醫是動物的醫生──someone who studied medicine for animals at university一個在大學裡讀動物醫學 and is licensed to並取得執照可以 examine them, work out what is wrong, give medicine, do operations, give vaccinations檢查動物、找出問題、開藥、動手術、打疫苗, and, when an animal is suffering with no hope, end its life gently以及在動物痛苦而沒有希望時，讓牠安詳離世的人。Most people meet one because of a pet大部分人會接觸獸醫是因為養寵物: a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a bird狗、貓、兔子、鳥。But veterinarians also work with不過獸醫也會照顧 farm animals, horses, zoo animals, and wild animals農場動物、馬、動物園的動物和野生動物, and some work in laboratories or for the government而有些獸醫則在實驗室工作，或替政府 checking that meat and animal diseases are under control檢查肉品和動物疾病是否受到控制。

The big thing to know is which word people actually say. In everyday speech almost nobody says the full four-syllable veterinarian — they say vet. 'I'm taking the cat to the vet.' The long word appears on a clinic sign, on a name card, in a job advertisement, in a news report, or when someone is being formal or proud about the profession.

The big thing to know要知道的重點 is which word people actually say是人們實際上會說哪個字。In everyday speech在日常口語裡 almost nobody says the full four-syllable veterinarian幾乎沒有人會說完整四音節的 veterinarian──they say vet大家說 vet。'I'm taking the cat to the vet.'「我要帶貓去看獸醫。」The long word appears這個長字會出現在 on a clinic sign, on a name card, in a job advertisement, in a news report診所招牌、名片、求職廣告、新聞報導上, or when someone is being formal or proud about the profession或是有人講話正式、以這個職業為榮的時候。

The other big thing is that veterinarian is the American word. British, Australian, and New Zealand speakers say vet in speech too, but when they need the full form they usually write 'veterinary surgeon' or just 'veterinary', and veterinarian sounds American to their ear. In Taiwan, textbooks and school exams tend to teach veterinarian, so students often produce the long word in conversation and sound a little stiff.

The other big thing另一個重點 is that veterinarian is the American word是 veterinarian 這個字是美式用法。British, Australian, and New Zealand speakers say vet in speech too英國、澳洲、紐西蘭的人口語也說 vet, but when they need the full form不過他們需要完整說法時 they usually write 'veterinary surgeon' or just 'veterinary'通常會寫「veterinary surgeon」或直接寫「veterinary」, and veterinarian sounds American to their ear對他們來說 veterinarian 聽起來就像是美式用法。In Taiwan在台灣, textbooks and school exams tend to teach veterinarian課本和學校考試多半教 veterinarian, so students often produce the long word in conversation and sound a little stiff所以學生講話時常常說出這個長字，聽起來有點生硬。

One more useful point: in American English vet has a second, completely separate meaning — a veteran, someone who served in the army. Context nearly always makes it clear, but that is why an American writer will sometimes choose the long word on purpose.

One more useful point還有一點值得知道: in American English在美式英語裡 vet has a second, completely separate meaning vet 還有第二個完全不同的意思──a veteran, someone who served in the army指退伍軍人，也就是曾經從軍的人。Context nearly always makes it clear上下文幾乎都能讓意思清楚, but that is why an American writer will sometimes choose the long word on purpose但這也是為什麼美國作者有時會刻意選用這個長字。