1. to become less in amount, number, or size
（數量、數目或大小）減少，降低
The temperature decreased significantly overnight.
氣溫在一夜之間顯著下降。
Our sales have decreased by 10% this quarter.
我們本季的銷售額減少了10%。
Decrease Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
decrease
verb
快速理解
What does "Decrease" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Decrease"?
指數量、程度或強度的降低或減少。
- 1
數量減少
EN: to become less in number or amount
翻譯: 指具體的數量或數值變少。
- 2
程度減弱
EN: to become smaller in size, intensity, or degree
翻譯: 指規模、強度或程度的縮小或減弱。
- 3
及物用法
EN: to make something less or smaller
翻譯: 作為及物動詞，表示使某物減少或降低。
小提醒：注意及物與不及物用法的區別："The population decreased."（不及物） vs. "We decreased the budget."（及物）。中文翻譯常使用「減少」、「降低」、「縮減」等詞。
發音（How to Pronounce "Decrease" in English）
How to pronounce "Decrease" in English?"Decrease" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Decrease" from YouTube Videos
Religions and babies | Hans Rosling
TED
“This is a quiz. What do you think? Do you think it will decrease to one billion?”
(1 out of 18)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Decrease"?How does "Decrease" change by context?
2. to make something less in amount, number, or size
使（某物的數量、數目或大小）減少，降低
The company decreased its workforce to cut costs.
該公司為了削減成本而減少了員工數量。
You can decrease the volume by pressing this button.
你可以按這個按鈕來降低音量。
3. to become less strong or intense
（強度或激烈程度）減弱，減退
The pain should decrease after taking the medicine.
服藥後疼痛應該會減輕。
Public interest in the issue has gradually decreased.
公眾對這個議題的興趣已逐漸減弱。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Decrease"?How to make natural sentences with "Decrease"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| decrease | 減少；降低 | The temperature will decrease overnight. (夜間氣溫將會下降。) |
| decrease + (from X) to Y | 從X減少到Y | The number of employees decreased from 100 to 75. (員工人數從100人減少到75人。) |
| decrease + by + amount/percentage | 減少了（某數量或百分比） | Our expenses decreased by 15% last quarter. (我們上季的開支減少了15%。) |
| decrease + in + noun | 在…方面減少 | We observed a sharp decrease in sales. (我們觀察到銷售額急遽減少。) |
| decrease + gradually/steadily/sharply | 逐漸/穩定地/急遽地減少 | The pain should decrease gradually. (疼痛應該會逐漸減輕。) |
用法說明
How is "Decrease" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Decrease"?
decrease by vs decrease to
- decrease by 表示減少的幅度或數量，後面接具體的差值或百分比。
- decrease to 表示減少後達到的具體數值或最終狀態。
- 在描述趨勢或原因時，常使用 decrease + V-ing 結構（如 decrease spending）。
- 在正式或書面語中，有時會看到 decrease + to + V 的結構，表示「減少到某種程度以至於...」，但較為少見。 EN: The company's expenses decreased by 20% last quarter. 翻譯: 該公司上一季的支出減少了 20%。
EN:The temperature decreased to 10 degrees Celsius overnight.
翻譯:氣溫在一夜之間下降到攝氏 10 度。
EN:We need to decrease using plastic packaging.
翻譯:我們需要減少使用塑膠包裝。
EN:The pressure decreased to allow the valve to open.
翻譯:壓力下降，使閥門得以開啟。
總結建議
表達減少幅度用「decrease by」，說明最終結果用「decrease to」，描述減少某一行為則常用「decrease + V-ing」。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Decrease" and similar words?How to choose "Decrease" vs alternatives?
decrease vs reduce
「decrease」強調數量或程度的自然或客觀減少；「reduce」則更常指人為、有意識地使某物變小、變少或降低等級。
decrease vs diminish
「decrease」側重於可量化的減少；「diminish」則更常指價值、重要性、強度等抽象品質的減弱或降低。
decrease vs decline
「decrease」是通用詞，適用於各種減少情境；「decline」則常指逐漸、持續的下降，或禮貌地拒絕。
口語用法
How is "Decrease" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Decrease"?
引述
在口語中，當引述或轉述他人關於數量或程度減少的說法時，常用「說...在減少」或「提到...下降了」的結構。 EN: He kept saying the quality was decreasing, but I didn't see it. 翻譯: 他一直說品質在下降，但我沒看出來。
EN:My boss mentioned that our team's productivity has been decreasing for months.
翻譯:我老闆提到我們團隊的生產力已經下降好幾個月了。
語氣強調
為了強調減少的幅度或速度，常會加上副詞如「大幅地」、「急遽地」、「慢慢地」，或使用「一直在減少」、「越來越少」等重複結構來加強語氣。 EN: Our customer satisfaction is just decreasing rapidly after the policy change. 翻譯: 政策改變後，我們的客戶滿意度就在急遽下降。
EN:The battery life keeps decreasing every time I update the phone.
翻譯:每次更新手機，電池續航力就一直在減少。
停頓填充
在思考如何描述減少趨勢或尋找合適數據時，會用「呃...在減少」或「就是...下降了」作為填充，讓對話更自然流暢。 EN: The number of participants, uh, is decreasing compared to last year. 翻譯: 參與人數，呃，跟去年比是在減少。
EN:The interest in that topic is, you know, decreasing among young people.
翻譯:對那個話題的興趣，你知道的，在年輕人之間是下降了。
正式寫作注意：在正式報告或學術寫作中，應避免使用口語填充詞（如「呃」、「你知道的」）和過於主觀的強調詞（如「就在」）。建議使用更精確的動詞（如 decline, diminish, drop）並搭配具體數據或百分比來客觀描述「減少」的趨勢。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Decrease"?What fixed phrases with "Decrease" should I remember?
decrease dramatically
verb + adverb
急遽減少；大幅下降
decrease gradually
verb + adverb
逐漸減少；逐步下降
decrease by [amount/percentage]
verb + preposition
減少了（某數量或百分比）
decrease to [level]
verb + preposition
減少到（某個水平）
decrease in [something]
verb + preposition
在（某方面）減少
decrease the risk
verb + noun phrase
降低風險
decrease sharply
verb + adverb
銳減；急劇下降
decrease slightly
verb + adverb
略微減少；稍有下降
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Decrease"?Which "Decrease" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×The price decreased 10%.
✓The price decreased by 10%.
當表示減少或增加的量時，動詞 'decrease' 後面通常需要介系詞 'by' 來連接具體的數字或百分比。
×We need to decrease the mistakes.
✓We need to reduce the number of mistakes. / We need to decrease the error rate.
'Decrease' 通常與可量化的、抽象的名詞連用（如 amount, rate, level, volume），而不直接用於可數的具體事物。對於具體的、可數的名詞（如 mistakes），更常使用 'reduce' 或改變說法。
×The temperature is decreasing down.
✓The temperature is decreasing. / The temperature is going down.
'Decrease' 本身已含有「向下減少」的意思，因此後面不需要再加 'down' 或 'lower'，否則會造成語意重複。
×I decreased my weight.
✓I lost weight. / My weight decreased.
雖然 'decrease' 可以描述體重下降，但以人作主詞時，描述體重減輕更自然、更常見的說法是 'lose weight'。'Decrease' 用於此情境時，主詞通常是體重本身（weight）。
×The government decreased the tax.
✓The government reduced/lowered the tax.
對於稅收、價格、音量等，雖然語意上可以理解，但更地道的搭配動詞是 'reduce' 或 'lower'。'Decrease' 在這些搭配中較不常見，聽起來較為書面或技術性。
×There is a decrease of people using the service.
✓There is a decrease in the number of people using the service.
名詞 'decrease' 後面接所減少的對象時，應使用介系詞 'in'。此外，若對象是可數的（如 people），需明確指出是數量（number）的減少。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Decrease"?What are tense/participle forms of "Decrease"?
decreases(3rd_singular)decreasing(present_participle)decreased(past)decreased(past_participle)