將某事物置於相關的背景或脈絡中來理解或解釋。
提供背景
EN: To provide context for something.
翻譯: 為某事物提供背景資訊。
置於脈絡中理解
EN: To understand or interpret something within its relevant context.
翻譯: 將某事物置於其相關的脈絡中來理解或詮釋。
使情境化
EN: To make something more meaningful by relating it to a specific situation.
翻譯: 透過將某事物與特定情境連結，使其更具意義。
小提醒：注意：'contextualize' 強調的是建立「背景連結」以輔助理解，而非單純地「解釋」內容本身。
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Contextualize" from YouTube Videos
Thomas Barnett: Rethinking America's military strategy
TED
“The question is: how do we reconnect American national security with global security to make the world a lot more comfortable and to embed and contextualize our employment of force around the planet?”
1. to place something in its appropriate context to understand it better
將某事物置於其相關背景中以便更好地理解
To fully understand the author's argument, we need to contextualize it within the political climate of the time.
要完全理解作者的論點，我們需要將其置於當時的政治氛圍中來看待。
Historians contextualize historical events by examining the social and economic factors that influenced them.
歷史學家透過檢視影響歷史事件的社會與經濟因素，來將其脈絡化。
2. to provide background information or circumstances that explain or give meaning to something
提供背景資訊或情況來解釋或賦予某事物意義
The teacher asked the students to contextualize the ancient text by researching the culture in which it was written.
老師要求學生透過研究該古籍寫作時的文化背景，來為其提供脈絡。
The documentary contextualizes the scientific discovery by showing the decades of research that led to it.
這部紀錄片透過展示導致該科學發現的數十年研究，為其提供了背景脈絡。
3. to consider or present something in relation to the situation in which it happens or exists
根據某事物發生或存在的情境來考慮或呈現它
When analyzing data, it's crucial to contextualize the numbers to avoid misinterpretation.
分析數據時，將數字置於情境中考量以避免誤解至關重要。
Her remarks were taken out of context; you need to contextualize them within the full conversation.
她的言論被斷章取義了；你需要將其放在完整的對話脈絡中來理解。
4. to adapt information or a message so it is appropriate for a specific audience or situation
調整資訊或訊息，使其適合特定的受眾或情境
Marketing teams must contextualize their global campaigns for local markets to ensure cultural relevance.
行銷團隊必須為本地市場調整其全球行銷活動，以確保文化相關性。
The training material was contextualized for employees with different levels of technical expertise.
培訓材料根據員工不同的技術專業水平進行了情境化調整。
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| contextualize + noun | 將（某事物）置於背景中理解 | The historian tried to contextualize the ancient text within its social and political climate. (這位歷史學家試圖將這份古文獻置於其社會與政治背景中來理解。) |
| contextualize + noun + as + noun phrase | 將…理解為… | The author contextualizes the protagonist's actions as a form of silent protest. (作者將主角的行為理解為一種無聲的抗議。) |
| contextualize + noun + by + V-ing / noun phrase | 透過…來理解…的背景 | She contextualized the data by comparing it with earlier studies. (她透過與早期研究對比來理解這份數據的背景。) |
| contextualize + noun + within + noun phrase | 將…置於…的框架內理解 | It's important to contextualize the artist's work within the broader cultural movement of the time. (將這位藝術家的作品置於當時更廣泛的文化運動框架內來理解是很重要的。) |
| be contextualized | 被置於背景中理解 | Historical events should not be judged in isolation; they must be contextualized. (歷史事件不應被孤立地評判；它們必須被置於背景中理解。) |
EN:The author sought to contextualize to explain the character's sudden decision.
翻譯:作者試圖提供背景框架，來解釋角色突然的決定。
建議優先使用 "contextualize + 名詞/名詞片語" 或 "contextualize something by doing" 的結構，"contextualize to do" 的用法較不常見，應謹慎使用。
contextualize vs explain
「contextualize」強調將事物置於其背景或脈絡中來理解，而「explain」泛指解釋原因、過程或含義，範圍更廣。
contextualize vs interpret
「contextualize」是為理解提供必要的背景，而「interpret」是對已有資訊（可能已包含背景）進行主觀的闡釋或賦予意義。
contextualize vs analyze
「contextualize」是設定分析框架的初步工作，而「analyze」是對事物進行詳細的拆解和檢視。
在口語中，常用來引述或總結他人的觀點，使其更具體或與當前討論相關。 EN: So, to contextualize what Sarah was saying, the budget cuts are part of a larger restructuring plan. 翻譯: 所以，把莎拉剛才說的脈絡化一下，這些預算削減其實是更大規模重組計畫的一部分。
EN:He kept mentioning "market fluctuations," so I tried to contextualize it by pointing out last year's economic crisis.
翻譯:他一直提到「市場波動」，所以我試著把它放在去年經濟危機的脈絡下來解釋。
用於強調某個資訊或事件的重要性，或為其提供必要的背景，以加深聽眾的理解。 EN: Let me just contextualize this for a second — this isn't just a small mistake; it's a pattern we've seen before. 翻譯: 讓我稍微說明一下這件事的背景——這不只是一個小失誤，而是我們以前就見過的模式。
EN:To contextualize the urgency, the server has been down for three hours during peak sales period.
翻譯:為了讓大家了解這件事的急迫性，伺服器在銷售高峰時段已經當機三小時了。
作為一種思考時的填充詞，用來爭取組織思緒或引入複雜解釋的時間。 EN: The data shows a decline... how to contextualize this... okay, compared to industry averages, we're still competitive. 翻譯: 數據顯示下滑…該怎麼把它放在脈絡裡看…好吧，跟產業平均值相比，我們還是有競爭力的。
EN:His reaction was, um, let me contextualize, it was more about surprise than anger.
翻譯:他的反應是，嗯，讓我來解釋一下背景，那比較像是驚訝而不是生氣。
請注意：在正式書寫或學術報告中，應避免將 "contextualize" 用作填充詞或過於口語化的引述開場。應直接、清晰地陳述背景資訊，而非使用此類口語框架。
contextualize within
contextualize something within something
將某事物置於某個框架、歷史或背景中來理解
contextualize for
contextualize something for someone
為某人（通常是特定受眾）解釋某事物的背景或關聯性
difficult to contextualize
difficult/hard/easy to contextualize
難以/容易將其置於背景中理解
contextualize the findings
contextualize the findings/results/data
闡釋研究結果、數據的背景與意義
contextualize an experience
contextualize an experience/memory
將個人經歷或記憶置於更廣的背景中來理解其意義
properly contextualize
properly/fully/adequately contextualize
充分地、適當地將其置於背景中理解
contextualize an artifact
contextualize an artifact/document
闡釋文物或文件的歷史、文化背景
×We need to contextualize the data.
✓We need to contextualize the data within the broader market trends.
The verb 'contextualize' is transitive and typically requires an object (what is being contextualized) AND a prepositional phrase (often 'within', 'in', 'against') to specify the context. Using it without specifying the context is incomplete and vague.
×He tried to contextualize about the historical event.
✓He tried to contextualize the historical event.
'Contextualize' is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'about' after it. The object (the thing being placed in context) comes directly after the verb.
×The report lacks contextualization.
✓The report fails to contextualize the data. / The report lacks context.
While the noun 'contextualization' exists, it is more formal and less common in everyday language. Learners often overuse it. Using the verb 'contextualize' or the simpler noun 'context' is more natural and direct in most cases.
×I will contextualize you the situation.
✓I will put the situation in context for you. / I will help you contextualize the situation.
'Contextualize' does not take an indirect object (like 'you') before the direct object. The structure is 'contextualize + [something] + for + [someone]' or use an alternative phrasing.
×We contextualized the problem and solved it.
✓We analyzed the problem in its full context and then solved it.
'Contextualize' means to consider or present something within its relevant context. It is an act of understanding or framing, not a direct step in a problem-solving sequence like 'analyze' or 'identify'. It is often confused with more general action verbs.