decolonise

IPA/ˌdiːˈkɒl.ə.naɪz/
IPA/ˌdiːˈkɑː.lə.naɪz/

decolonise — 動詞

  • decolonisepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • decolonises3rd person singular
  • decolonising-ing form
  • decolonisedpast simple

1. to give a colony, or a people living under colonial rule, the freedom to govern

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

使獨立

終止殖民統治，給予自由

to give a colony, or a people living under colonial rule, the freedom to govern themselves, or to end the practice of controlling overseas colonies altogether

例句

Britain began to decolonise many of its African territories in the 1950s and 1960s.

英國在 1950 和 1960 年代開始讓許多非洲領地獨立。

decolonise + territories / colonies

United Nations resolutions urged all member states to decolonise their remaining overseas possessions.

聯合國決議敦促所有會員國讓其剩餘的海外屬地獨立。

同義詞
  • emancipate

    more general; can refer to freeing any group from any form of control, not only colonial rule

  • liberate

    strong emotional tone; often used for military or revolutionary freedom rather than a negotiated political process

反義詞
  • colonise

    the direct opposite — to establish colonial control over a territory

  • subjugate

    to bring under violent control, the opposite of granting freedom

文法句型

decolonise + noun phrase (a country / a territory)

用法筆記

Frequently appears in historical-political writing about the mid-to-late 20th century, when European empires dismantled their colonial holdings. The subject of the verb is typically the colonising power (a country or government).

常見錯誤

❌India decolonised Britain in 1947.
✅India became independent from Britain in 1947.' or 'Britain decolonised India in 1947.
💡the colonising power is the subject of decolonise; the former colony becomes independent.

2. of a colony or colonised people, to gain political freedom and the right to gove

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

獨立

（殖民地）脫離宗主國，取得主權

of a colony or colonised people, to gain political freedom and the right to govern yourself, usually after a period of struggle or negotiation

例句

Algeria decolonised after a long and bitterly fought war with France.

阿爾及利亞在與法國進行了一場漫長而慘烈的戰爭後獲得獨立。

intransitive: a country decolonises (no object)

Many Caribbean islands decolonised peacefully during the 1960s under new constitutional arrangements.

許多加勒比海島嶼在 1960 年代根據新的憲法安排和平獨立。

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

decolonise (no object)

用法筆記

The subject of this intransitive use is the colony or colonised people, not the colonising power. This distinguishes it from sense 1, where the colonising power is the subject.

常見錯誤

❌In 1960, many African countries were decolonised by their populations.
✅In 1960, many African countries decolonised.
💡when the colony is the subject, use the intransitive form without 'by' or an agent.

3. to change a school, academic field, or cultural institution by rejecting the ide

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

去殖民化

去除知識體系中的歐洲中心色彩與殖民遺緒

to change a school, academic field, or cultural institution by rejecting the idea that European viewpoints are naturally central or superior, and instead giving equal weight to non-European histories, ideas, and voices

例句

The university formed a committee to decolonise its history curriculum, adding African and Asian perspectives.

該大學組成了一個委員會，去殖民化歷史課程，加入非洲和亞洲的觀點。

decolonise + curriculum / syllabus

Activists are asking museums to decolonise their collections by returning artefacts taken during colonial times.

社運人士要求博物館去殖民化其館藏，歸還殖民時期掠奪的文物。

同義詞
  • decentre

    narrower meaning; focuses on moving European perspectives away from the centre rather than a full transformation

  • diversify

    broader and less political; does not specifically address colonial power structures

反義詞
  • canonise

    to treat a set of works as the authoritative standard, often the opposite of opening up a curriculum

文法句型

decolonise + noun phrase (a curriculum / a field / a discipline)

用法筆記

This sense is relatively recent and most common in academic and activist discourse. The object is typically an abstract noun such as curriculum, syllabus, discipline, museum, canon, or knowledge system.

常見錯誤

❌The library decolonised its books by donating old ones.
✅The library worked to decolonise its collection by acquiring works by non-European writers and rethinking its classification system.
💡decolonising a collection is about changing perspectives and representation, not simply removing old items.