Vichy is a small city in the middle of France. It is old and famous for its hot spring water — people went there to drink the water and to rest, and you can still buy bottled Vichy water and Vichy beauty products with the name on them.

Vichy維琪 is是 a small city in the middle of France法國中部的一個小城市；it是 old and famous for its hot spring water一座歷史悠久、以溫泉聞名的城市——people went there to drink the water and to rest人們會去那裡喝溫泉水、休息，and而 you can still buy bottled Vichy water and Vichy beauty products with the name on them你現在還買得到印著Vichy這個名字的瓶裝水和美妝產品。

But when English speakers say "Vichy", they almost always mean something darker. In 1940 Germany's army took most of France. The French government moved to this quiet spa city and, from there, ran what was left of the country — but it did what Germany told it to do. So people say "the Vichy government", or call the country in those years "Vichy France", to name that government and that time.

But但是 when English speakers say "Vichy"當英語使用者說「Vichy」時，they almost always mean something darker幾乎都是指比較沉重的意思；in 1940在1940年 Germany's army took most of France德國軍隊佔領了法國大部分地區；the French government moved to this quiet spa city法國政府搬到這個安靜的溫泉小城，and而且 from there就從那裡 ran what was left of the country統治剩下的國土——but但 it did what Germany told it to do它做的是德國要它做的事；so所以 people say "the Vichy government"人們會說「維琪政府」，or或者 call the country in those years "Vichy France"把那段時期的法國稱為「維琪法國」，to用來 name that government and that time指稱那個政府和那段時期。

It lasted from 1940 to 1944. Many French people at the time did not accept it. They said it was not the real France, only men doing Germany's work while wearing French clothes. That feeling stayed in the word. So "Vichy" now carries a smell of shame: of a government that gave in, and of people who worked with an enemy to keep their own place safe.

It lasted from 1940 to 1944它從1940年持續到1944年；many French people at the time did not accept it當時很多法國人不接受它；they said it was not the real France他們說那不是真正的法國，only只是一群 men doing Germany's work while wearing French clothes穿著法國衣服替德國做事的人；that feeling stayed in the word這種感覺留在了這個字裡；so所以「Vichy」現在 "Vichy" now carries a smell of shame帶著一股恥辱的味道：of一種是 a government that gave in一個屈服的政府，and而另一種是 of people who worked with an enemy to keep their own place safe那些為了保住自己地位而跟敵人合作的人。

Because of that, people sometimes use it outside history. If a writer calls someone "a Vichy figure", they are not talking about France at all — they mean this person is on the wrong side and is helping the powerful hurt their own people. This is a strong insult, and educated speakers use it carefully.

Because of that也因為這樣，people sometimes use it outside history人們有時候會把它用在歷史之外的場合；if如果 a writer calls someone "a Vichy figure"一個作者把某人稱為「a Vichy figure」，they are not talking about France at all他們根本不是在講法國——they mean他們的意思是 this person is on the wrong side這個人站錯邊了，and而且 is helping the powerful hurt their own people在幫有權的人傷害自己人；this is a strong insult這是很重的罵人話，and而且 educated speakers use it carefully有教養的人會小心使用。

It is a formal, book-and-newspaper word; you will meet it in history class and in serious writing far more than in daily talk.

It is a formal, book-and-newspaper word這是正式、書面和新聞用語；you will meet it in history class and in serious writing你會在歷史課和正經的文章裡遇到它，far more than in daily talk遠多於日常對話。

One more thing worth knowing: whether the Vichy leaders were traitors, or were trying to protect France in a terrible situation, is still argued about in France today. The word is not neutral, and that is part of the word.

One more thing worth knowing還有一件事值得知道：whether the Vichy leaders were traitors維琪的領導人到底是叛徒，or or were trying to protect France in a terrible situation還是在絕境中試圖保護法國，is still argued about in France today至今在法國仍有爭論；the word is not neutral這個字並不是中性的，and而 that is part of the word這也是這個字的一部分。