自從智慧型手機普及以來，我們經常能聽到「手機變磚」這個說法。也就是說，因為手機刷機或程序更新誤操作導致手機無法正常使用，不能正常使用的手機就像一塊磚頭，所以，英語中也就用brick一詞來表示這種狀況。
In the tech-centered world in which we live, it's inevitable that electronic devices might be periodically subjected to a bit of an overhaul, but what if our attempts at maintenance or improvement leave them worse for wear? This is the circumstance behind an action now described by the verb brick.
在我們生活的這個技術世界裡，電子設備難免要定期進行一些更新，但是，如果我們對電子設備的維護或升級導致它們無法使用了怎麼辦呢？這種設備更新或升級後無法正常使用的情況現在可以用一個詞來表示：brick（變磚）。
The transitive verb brick refers to the undesirable action of causing an electronic device to stop working because of something you've done to the software, usually when updating its operating system or adding a new application. Though the term is usually used in the context of mobile phones, it's also possible to brick other devices, such as tablet or desktop computers and even games consoles. Devices are often bricked when there's an interruption to an update procedure, perhaps because of power failure or because the user inadvertently does something which affects it. Such interruptions can partially overwrite or corrupt what is known as firmware, software which is integral to the device and without which it may not properly function. (Source: macmillandictionary.com)
這裡的動詞brick就指因為對軟體進行的某個操作導致電子設備罷工的意外狀況，這些操作通常是升級作業系統或添加新的應用程式。雖然「變磚」這個說法多用於手機，不過這種情況也可能發生在平板電腦、桌上型電腦以及遊戲機主機等設備上。設備「變磚」多由斷電或用戶無意操作導致的升級程序中斷引發。此類程序中斷會部分覆蓋或損壞固件，固件就是設備中內置的軟體，沒有此類軟體，設備可能無法正常運行。
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（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）
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