decoding

/diːˈkəʊd/ (bre, ipa) · [dɪkˈodɪŋ] /diːˈkoʊd/ (ame, ipa) · [dɪkˈodɪŋ] /(ˌ)dē-ˈkōd/ (ame, mw)

decoding — verb

  • decodingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • decodings3rd person singular
  • decodinging-ing form
  • decodingedpast simple

1. to turn hidden, coded, or puzzling information back into ordinary language so th

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to turn hidden, coded, or puzzling information back into ordinary language so that anyone can read and understand it

例句

The spy team spent hours decoding the enemy's secret radio messages.

decode + noun phrase for secret messages

Using an ancient key, the historian decoded the symbols carved on the temple wall.

同義詞
  • decipher

    similar; often used for handwriting, ancient scripts, or messy text rather than electronic codes

  • crack

    informal; suggests breaking a code or password through effort or cleverness

  • decrypt

    technical; specifically means undoing encryption with a key or algorithm

反義詞
  • encode

    the reverse process of converting information into a code

  • encrypt

    technical opposite; to convert data into secret code

文法句型

decode + noun phrase

用法筆記

Object is usually a piece of information or a coded text (message, signal, cipher, symbols, code). Not used for physical objects.

常見錯誤

❌I decoded the map.
✅I decoded the symbols on the map.
💡You decode information or a coded message, not a physical object.

2. to examine a foreign word, phrase, or passage in order to work out its correct s

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to examine a foreign word, phrase, or passage in order to work out its correct sense, especially as a learner of that language

例句

Thai is hard to decode when you have never heard the tones before.

impersonal construction: [language] + is hard to decode

Samir slowly decoded each sentence of the German news article with a dictionary.

同義詞
  • interpret

    broader; can apply to spoken language, meaning, or even gestures and art

  • understand

    more general; does not suggest the step-by-step process of working out a text

反義詞

文法句型

decode + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently used with a language or a type of text as the object: 'decode a letter / a sentence / a menu / a poem'. The object names the text, not the language itself.

常見錯誤

❌I decoded Japanese.
✅I decoded a Japanese sentence.
💡Name the text, not just the language.