debase
debase — 動詞
- debasepresent simple I / you / we / they
- debaseshe / she / it
- debasedpast simple
- debasing-ing form
1. to make a product, standard, or quality become poorer than it was before, often
降低；貶抑
使品質變差或價值降低
to make a product, standard, or quality become poorer than it was before, often by mixing in something inferior or by reducing what made it good.
The restaurant debased its reputation by serving frozen food instead of fresh ingredients.
這家餐廳使用冷凍食品而非新鮮食材，降低了自身信譽。
collocation: debase reputation / debase quality
Using cheap artificial flavours can debase the taste of what was once a fine recipe.
使用廉價的人工香料會破壞原本優良食譜的風味。
debase + abstract noun (taste)
The museum director warned that selling fake artefacts would debase the collection's scholarly value.
博物館館長警告說，販賣假文物會貶抑館藏的學術價值。
Quan thought the new logo was too flashy and would debase the brand's classic image.
Quan 認為新標誌過於花俏，會降低品牌的經典形象。
The publisher debased the paper quality, and readers complained the books fell apart too quickly.
出版商降低紙張品質後，讀者抱怨書本很快就散開了。
文法句型
debase + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in passive constructions (be debased) when describing how products, standards, or reputations have been made worse. The direct object is usually an abstract noun such as quality, standard, reputation, image, or value.
常見錯誤
2. to cause a person or group to lose their moral principles or self-respect, makin
使墮落
使人道德淪喪或失去尊嚴
to cause a person or group to lose their moral principles or self-respect, making them behave in a way that is shameful or dishonourable.
The gossip magazine debased its journalists by asking them to spy on grieving families.
這本八卦雜誌要求記者去騷擾喪親家庭，使記者們道德淪喪。
debase + collective human object
Imani believed that lying to win the election would debase the entire political process.
Imani 認為靠說謊贏得選舉會使整個政治過程墮落。
Eve refused to debase herself by begging for a promotion she had earned fairly.
Eve 拒絕為了得到應得的晉升而卑躬屈膝，貶低自己的人格。
The warden's cruel treatment debased the prisoners and stripped them of their dignity.
典獄長的殘酷對待使囚犯們喪失人性尊嚴。
A soldier who harms innocent civilians debases the uniform and the values it represents.
傷害平民百姓的軍人玷污了軍裝及其代表的價值。
文法句型
debase + noun phrase
debase + oneself
用法筆記
The reflexive form (debase oneself) is common when describing an individual's voluntary loss of dignity. Distinguish from Sense 1: Sense 2 targets moral character and human subjects, while Sense 1 targets the quality of objects or standards.
常見錯誤
3. to reduce the real value of a country's money, either by mixing cheaper metals i
貶值（貨幣）
降低貨幣的實際價值
to reduce the real value of a country's money, either by mixing cheaper metals into coins or through economic policies that lower its purchasing power.
The Roman emperor debased the silver denarius by adding copper to the coin mixture.
羅馬皇帝在銀幣中摻入銅，降低了銀幣的價值。
historical context: Roman coinage
When a government debases its currency, citizens find their savings buy less than before.
當政府令貨幣貶值時，民眾會發現自己的積蓄能買到的東西比以前少了。
Economists warned that printing more money without economic growth would further debase the national currency.
經濟學家警告說，在沒有經濟成長的情況下印更多鈔票，會進一步使國家貨幣貶值。
Historians trace Spain's economic collapse to the decision to debase gold coinage in the 1600s.
歷史學家將西班牙經濟崩潰歸因於十七世紀降低金幣價值的決定。
The finance minister resisted pressure to debase the currency because it would harm pensioners.
財政部長拒絕了貶值貨幣的壓力，因為這會傷害靠退休金生活的人。
- devalue
the standard modern term for reducing a currency's value; less historical weight
- depreciate
can describe a currency losing value over time through market forces
- appreciate
when a currency gains value relative to others
文法句型
debase + noun phrase
用法筆記
Primarily used in historical or economic writing. The object is always a form of money (currency, coinage, coin, denarius). Not used for general price reduction — 'devalue' or 'depreciate' is preferred in modern finance.