1. to make something smaller in size, amount, or degree
使（尺寸、數量或程度）變小、減少
We need to reduce our expenses to save money.
我們需要減少開支來省錢。
The company plans to reduce its workforce by 10%.
公司計劃將員工數量減少百分之十。
Reduce Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
reduce
verb
快速理解
What does "Reduce" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Reduce"?
指使某物在數量、大小、程度或重要性上變小或變少。
- 1
減少數量或大小
EN: to make something smaller in size, amount, or degree
翻譯: 使某物在尺寸、數量或程度上變小。
- 2
降低價格或價值
EN: to lower the price, cost, or value of something
翻譯: 降低某物的價格、成本或價值。
- 3
迫使處於不利狀態
EN: to force someone into a difficult or unpleasant state
翻譯: 迫使某人陷入困難或不愉快的狀態。
- 4
烹飪中濃縮醬汁
EN: to boil a liquid so that it becomes thicker and smaller in quantity
翻譯: 透過煮沸使液體變濃、量變少。
小提醒：注意 'reduce to' 與 'reduce by' 的區別：'reduce to' 表示減少到某個具體數值或狀態（如 reduce to tears 哭出來），而 'reduce by' 表示減少了多少（如 reduce by 10% 減少百分之十）。
發音（How to Pronounce "Reduce" in English）
How to pronounce "Reduce" in English?"Reduce" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Reduce" from YouTube Videos
Hadyn Parry: Re-engineering mosquitos to fight disease
TED
“And you would think, would you not, that with all our science, with all our advances in society, with better towns, better civilizations, better sanitation, wealth, that we would get better at controlling mosquitos and hence reduce this disease.”
(1 out of 50)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Reduce"?How does "Reduce" change by context?
2. to bring something to a simpler or more basic state
使簡化、使還原、歸納
The sauce is reduced by simmering it until it thickens.
將醬汁用文火慢煮收汁，直到變濃稠。
The problem can be reduced to a simple equation.
這個問題可以簡化成一個簡單的方程式。
3. to lose weight by dieting
（透過節食）減輕體重、減肥
She is trying to reduce by cutting out sugar.
她正試著透過戒糖來減肥。
His doctor advised him to reduce for health reasons.
他的醫生建議他為了健康原因減重。
4. to force someone into a less favorable or weaker position
迫使（某人）陷入更不利或更弱的境地
The scandal reduced him to a figure of ridicule.
這樁醜聞使他淪為被嘲笑的對象。
Poverty had reduced the family to begging.
貧困迫使這家人淪落到乞討為生。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Reduce"?How to make natural sentences with "Reduce"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| reduce + noun | 減少（某物） | The company plans to reduce costs. (公司計劃降低成本。) |
| reduce + noun + by + amount/percentage | 將（某物）減少（某數量/百分比） | We reduced our energy consumption by 20%. (我們將能源消耗減少了20%。) |
| reduce + noun + to + noun/amount | 將（某物）減少至（某狀態/數量） | The sauce was reduced to a thick glaze. (醬汁被熬煮至濃稠的狀態。) |
| be reduced to + noun/V-ing | 淪落到（某種境地/狀態） | After the scandal, he was reduced to begging for money. (醜聞之後，他淪落到乞討金錢。) |
| reduce + noun + from X to Y | 將（某物）從X減少到Y | The price has been reduced from $100 to $75. (價格已從100美元降至75美元。) |
| reduce + the + noun (e.g., risk, impact, amount) | 降低（風險、影響、數量等） | Planting trees helps reduce the impact of air pollution. (植樹有助於降低空氣污染的影響。) |
用法說明
How is "Reduce" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Reduce"?
reduce doing vs reduce to do
- reduce doing 通常表示「減少某個持續性或習慣性的活動」，強調的是減少一個行為本身。
- reduce to do 並不常見，因為 "reduce" 通常不直接接不定詞來表示目的。
- 若要表達「為了...而減少」，更常見的結構是 reduce something in order to do something 或 reduce something to do something（此時不定詞表示目的或結果）。
- 另一個常見結構是 be reduced to doing something，表示「淪落到必須做某事的地步」，帶有負面含義。 EN: The company plans to reduce spending on marketing next year. 翻譯: 公司計劃明年減少行銷開支。
EN:We reduced staff overtime in order to cut costs.
翻譯:我們為了削減成本而減少了員工加班。
EN:After the injury, he was reduced to watching games from the sidelines.
翻譯:受傷後，他淪落到只能在場邊觀看比賽。
EN:She reduced her expenses to save money for her trip.
翻譯:她為了存旅費而減少了開支。
總結建議
一般情況下，使用 "reduce + 名詞/動名詞" 來表示減少某事物或某行為；若需表達減少的目的，可使用 "reduce something in order to do something" 或 "reduce something to do something" 結構。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Reduce" and similar words?How to choose "Reduce" vs alternatives?
reduce vs decrease
兩者都表示「減少」，但 reduce 更強調主動採取措施使數量、程度或規模變小，常帶有目的性；decrease 則較中性，可指自然或客觀的減少。
reduce vs diminish
reduce 側重於使規模、數量或程度變小，常為主動行為；diminish 則強調價值、重要性或強度的減弱，可能為自然或漸進過程。
reduce vs lessen
reduce 通常指透過行動使整體規模或數量減少；lessen 則更側重於程度、強度或嚴重性的降低，尤指不適或負面事物。
口語用法
How is "Reduce" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Reduce"?
引述
在轉述他人意見或一般性建議時，常用來緩和語氣。 EN: So, what he was saying is we should reduce our spending first. 翻譯: 所以，他的意思是我們應該先減少開支。
EN:I'm not saying eliminate the team, just reduce its size a bit.
翻譯:我不是說要解散團隊，只是稍微縮減一下規模。
語氣強調
與副詞連用，或在否定/對比結構中加強語意。 EN: We need to drastically reduce our carbon footprint, and soon. 翻譯: 我們需要大幅減少碳足跡，而且要快。
EN:It didn't reduce the problem; it actually made it worse.
翻譯:這並沒有減輕問題，反而讓情況更糟了。
停頓填充
在組織思緒或尋找合適字眼時，作為過渡詞的一部分。 EN: The goal here is to... reduce complexity, I guess? 翻譯: 這裡的目標是…降低複雜性，我想？
EN:If we could reduce—well, not completely, but manage—the risks, that'd be great.
翻譯:如果我們能減少—嗯，不是完全消除，而是管控—風險，那就太好了。
正式寫作注意：在學術或正式商業文件中，應避免使用上述口語中的停頓、不確定語氣（如「I guess」）或過於簡化的引述方式（如「what he was saying is...」），以保持論述的嚴謹與客觀。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Reduce"?What fixed phrases with "Reduce" should I remember?
reduce costs
reduce [noun]
降低成本
reduce the risk
reduce the [noun]
降低風險
reduce something to
reduce [noun] to [noun/amount]
將某物減少到（某種狀態或數量）
reduce by
reduce [noun] by [amount/percentage]
減少了（某個數量或百分比）
reduce stress
reduce [noun]
減輕壓力
reduce drastically
reduce [adverb]
大幅減少
reduce waste
reduce [noun]
減少浪費
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Reduce"?Which "Reduce" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×We need to reduce the cost down.
✓We need to reduce the cost.
「reduce」本身已包含「降低、減少」的意思，後面直接接受詞即可，加上「down」是多餘且錯誤的。
×I reduced 5 kilos last month.
✓I lost 5 kilos last month. / I reduced my weight by 5 kilos last month.
「reduce」是及物動詞，通常需要一個明確的受詞（如：weight, expenses）。直接說「減少幾公斤」是不自然的，應使用「lose weight」或「reduce one's weight by...」。
×The government reduced the tax.
✓The government reduced taxes. / The government reduced the tax rate.
「reduce the tax」語意模糊，可能被理解為「廢除某項稅收」。更常見且精確的說法是「reduce taxes」（泛指減稅）或「reduce the tax rate」（降低稅率）。
×This medicine can reduce your pain.
✓This medicine can relieve your pain. / This medicine can reduce your pain level.
雖然「reduce pain」在語法上正確，但在自然英語中，更常使用「relieve pain」或「alleviate pain」來表達「緩解疼痛」。若堅持使用「reduce」，則常會說「reduce pain intensity」或「pain level」使其更精確。
×We reduced go out to eat.
✓We reduced how often we eat out. / We cut down on eating out.
「reduce」後面應接名詞、名詞片語或動名詞（gerund），不能直接接原形動詞。正確用法是接一個名詞性的概念，如「the frequency」或使用動名詞「eating out」。
×The price was reduced 20%.
✓The price was reduced by 20%. / The price was reduced to $80.
表達減少的幅度時，必須使用介系詞「by」。若表示減少後的結果（新價格），則使用介系詞「to」。省略「by」是常見錯誤。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Reduce"?What are tense/participle forms of "Reduce"?
reduces(3rd_singular)reducing(present_participle)reduced(past)reduced(past_participle)