decentralize
decentralize — 動詞
- decentralizepresent simple I / you / we / they
- decentralizeshe / she / it
- decentralizedpast simple
- decentralizing-ing form
1. to give local offices or regional branches the authority to make important decis
分散管理
將權力從總部下放各分支
to give local offices or regional branches the authority to make important decisions, rather than having everything decided and controlled by a single central headquarters
The retail group decided to decentralize its operations so regional teams could respond faster to local needs.
該零售集團決定分散管理其營運，讓區域團隊能更快回應在地需求。
transitive: decentralize + noun phrase (operations/management)
After years of tight control, the chain began to decentralize and gave stores more freedom.
在經歷多年總部嚴格管控後，這家連鎖店開始分散管理，給予各分店更多自主權。
Mayumi thinks the district should decentralize budgeting so principals decide how to spend the money.
Mayumi 認為學區應將預算分散管理，讓每位校長自行決定經費使用方式。
The admissions process was decentralized so that each faculty could set its own entry requirements.
招生流程經過分散管理後，各學院可以自行訂定入學標準。
Local hospitals want to decentralize their purchasing to avoid long delays from central approval.
當地醫院希望將採購業務分散管理，以避免因中央審批而延誤。
- delegate
focuses on assigning specific tasks while keeping overall control; a narrower act than restructuring an entire organization
- distribute
more general term that can apply to physical objects as well as authority; less specific to organizational structure
- devolve
mainly used in political contexts for transferring responsibilities to lower levels of government
- centralize
to bring power or decision-making back to a single central point
文法句型
decentralize + noun phrase (operations/management)
decentralize (no object)
用法筆記
The intransitive use ('The company decided to decentralize') is very common in business contexts, especially when talking about organizational structure. The transitive form requires a noun phrase such as 'operations,' 'management,' or 'decision-making' as the object.
常見錯誤
2. to transfer political decision-making power from a national government to local
權力下放
中央將權交予地方當局
to transfer political decision-making power from a national government to local or regional authorities
The national government plans to decentralize education funding so local councils decide how to use it.
中央政府計劃將教育經費權力下放給地方議會，讓地方自行決定經費用途。
transitive: decentralize + noun phrase (funding/authority)
After the new law passed, many central powers were decentralized to county governments.
新法通過後，許多原本由中央政府掌握的權力都下放給了縣級政府。
Omar argued the country should decentralize its tax system so provinces keep a share of the money.
Omar 主張該國應將稅收制度權力下放，讓各省能保留部分稅收。
When the health system was decentralized, local hospitals gained the right to hire their own staff.
醫療體系權力下放後，地方醫院獲得了自行聘用人員的權力。
Yael believes the central government needs to decentralize decision-making to village councils across the country.
Yael 認為中央政府需要將決策權力下放給全國各地的村里委員會。
- centralize
to concentrate power back at the national level
文法句型
decentralize + noun phrase (power/authority/funding)
用法筆記
The subject is almost always a national government or similar central authority. The powers being transferred are usually specified — e.g. 'funding,' 'tax collection,' 'health services.' This sense is formal and most common in political science, public policy, and news reporting.
3. to move people, businesses, or activities away from one main location and spread
分散
將集中的人口設施分散到各地
to move people, businesses, or activities away from one main location and spread them across several different areas
The government decided to decentralize the capital's population by building new towns in the countryside.
政府決定透過在郊區建造新市鎮，來疏散分散首都的人口。
transitive: decentralize + noun phrase (population/industry)
Plans to decentralize heavy industry from the city center were announced by the mayor last month.
將重工業從市中心疏散分散的計畫，已由市長在上個月公布。
Gita suggested the company decentralize warehouses across three regions rather than keep everything in one place.
Gita 建議公司將倉庫分散到三個區域，而不是集中在同一地點。
The country aims to decentralize its main port operations to smaller harbours along the coast.
該國計劃將主要港口業務分散到沿海較小的港口。
- concentrate
to bring things together in one place
- centralize
to bring operations back to a single central location
文法句型
decentralize + noun phrase (population/industry/facilities)
用法筆記
This sense emphasizes geographical relocation rather than the transfer of decision-making authority. It most often appears in discussions of urban planning, industrial policy, and infrastructure. Distinguished from sense 1 and 2 by its focus on physical movement of people or facilities rather than organizational power structures.