A short jacket with no sleeves and buttons down the front, worn over a shirt and usually under a suit jacket — the third piece of a three-piece suit. This is the British word; Americans say 'vest'.

A short jacket一件短短的背心式外套with no sleeves沒有袖子and buttons down the front前面有一排釦子，worn over a shirt穿在襯衫外面and usually under a suit jacket通常又穿在西裝外套裡面——the third piece of a three-piece suit是三件式西裝的第三件。This is the British word這是英式說法；Americans say 'vest'美式則說'vest'。

That gap causes real trouble, because in Britain a 'vest' is underwear worn next to the skin, and in America 'waistcoat' sounds old-fashioned or tailor-shop formal. Here in Taiwan we say 背心, but note 背心 also covers sleeveless T-shirts and knitted vests, which a waistcoat is not — a waistcoat has a front opening and buttons.

That gap causes real trouble這個差異真的會造成困擾，because in Britain因為在英國，a 'vest' is underwear worn next to the skin'vest'指的是貼身穿的內衣，and in America而在美國，'waistcoat' sounds old-fashioned or tailor-shop formal'waistcoat'聽起來很老派或裁縫店式的正式。Here in Taiwan在台灣，we say背心我們會說背心，but note不過要注意背心 also covers背心也包括sleeveless T-shirts and knitted vests無袖T恤和針織背心，which a waistcoat is not這些waistcoat都不算——a waistcoat has a front opening and buttonswaistcoat是前面開襟、有釦子的。

Nowadays you meet it at weddings, in offices where people dress up, on waiters and hotel staff, and in old films.

Nowadays現在，you meet it你會看到它at weddings在婚禮上、in offices where people dress up需要穿正式一點的辦公室、on waiters and hotel staff服務生和飯店員工身上、and in old films還有老電影裡。

The pronunciation surprises people: many British speakers say something close to 'WESS-kit', and 'WAIST-coat' is also fine and common.

The pronunciation surprises people發音會讓人嚇一跳：many British speakers很多英國人say something close to 'WESS-kit'會唸得接近'WESS-kit'，and 'WAIST-coat' is also fine and common不過照字面唸'WAIST-coat'也可以，也很常見。