degeneration
/dɪˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˌje-nə-ˈrā-shən ˌdē-/ (ame, mw)
degeneration — 名詞
1. the process of gradually becoming worse in quality, condition, or strength over
衰退；惡化
逐漸變差或失去原有品質
the process of gradually becoming worse in quality, condition, or strength over time
Doctors warned about the degeneration of the patient's eyesight after the severe infection.
醫生警告說，那次嚴重感染後，病人的視力出現了衰退。
degeneration of [body function / ability]
Elena noticed a gradual degeneration in the quality of the tap water after the factory opened nearby.
Elena注意到附近工廠開工後，自來水的水質逐漸惡化。
degeneration in [quality / condition]
Amara inspected the old railway bridge and noted clear signs of degeneration in its iron supports.
Amara檢查了那座舊鐵橋，注意到鐵支架出現明顯的腐朽跡象。
Urban planners expressed concern over the slow degeneration of public parks in the northern districts.
都市規劃者對北區公園設施的逐漸衰退表示擔憂。
After years without maintenance, the hospital building showed obvious degeneration of its plumbing and wiring.
由於多年缺乏維護，那家醫院的建築在水電管線方面出現了明顯的劣化。
- deterioration
more general term for anything getting worse; less focused on a decline from a previous better state
- decline
broader and more common; can refer to a decrease in quantity, quality, or importance
- decay
often implies rotting or breaking down physically, with a stronger negative connotation
- improvement
the process of becoming better
- development
growth or progress toward a better state
文法句型
degeneration + of + noun
degeneration + in + noun
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' to name the thing that is declining. Common modifiers include 'gradual', 'steady', 'slow', and 'progressive'.
常見錯誤
2. a gradual loss of moral values, intellectual ability, or artistic quality, viewe
墮落；頹廢
道德、智慧或藝術水準降低
a gradual loss of moral values, intellectual ability, or artistic quality, viewed as a negative change from a previous better state
Film critic Diego viewed the declining quality of movies as evidence of the degeneration of the film industry.
影評人Diego認為電影品質下降是電影產業墮落的證據。
degeneration of [industry] — formal register
Historian Arjun argued that the Roman Empire collapsed partly because of internal moral degeneration among its leaders.
歷史學家Arjun主張，羅馬帝國的崩潰部分歸因於領導階層內部的道德墮落。
moral degeneration
Some community leaders warned about the artistic degeneration caused by chasing only commercial success in galleries.
一些社區領袖警告說，為了追求商業成功而創作，導致了藝術的頹廢。
The teacher's long essay traced the slow intellectual degeneration of a once-respected scholarly journal over fifty years.
那位老師在長篇論文中追溯了一份曾經備受尊敬的學術期刊五十年來的智識衰退歷程。
- corruption
stronger moral focus; often implies dishonesty or unethical behaviour, not just gradual decline
- decline
broader and less formal; can be used for any downward trend without the moral judgement
- decadence
implies self-indulgent pleasure-seeking and loss of discipline, especially in artistic or cultural contexts
- improvement
general antonym for any decline
- refinement
specifically the opposite of moral or cultural decline; the process of becoming more polished or civilised
文法句型
moral degeneration
cultural degeneration
degeneration of + standards / values / taste
用法筆記
Commonly paired with a qualifying adjective such as 'moral', 'cultural', 'artistic', or 'intellectual' to specify the domain of decline. Rarely used without a qualifier.
常見錯誤
3. a medical process in which a tissue, organ, or body part gradually breaks down a
病變；萎縮
身體組織或器官功能減退
a medical process in which a tissue, organ, or body part gradually breaks down and loses its ability to function normally
The MRI scan showed clear degeneration of the cartilage in both of Haruki's knees.
核磁共振掃描顯示Haruki的兩個膝蓋軟骨都有明顯的病變。
degeneration of [body part] — medical usage
Age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of vision loss in people over sixty.
老年性黃斑部病變是六十歲以上民眾視力喪失最常見的原因之一。
medical compound noun: macular degeneration
Dr. Ananya told her patient that regular exercise may slow the degeneration of brain cells as people age.
Ananya醫生告訴她的病人，規律運動可能有助於減緩腦細胞的萎縮。
The surgeon explained that degeneration of the spinal discs was causing Kwame's chronic lower back pain.
外科醫生解釋說，椎間盤病變是造成Kwame長期下背痛的原因。
Lukas was diagnosed with early degeneration of the liver tissue after drinking heavily for many years.
Lukas因長期大量飲酒，被診斷出肝臟組織出現早期病變。
- deterioration
more general medical term; less specific about progressive, irreversible loss of function
- atrophy
specifically the wasting away or shrinkage of tissue, often from disuse rather than disease
- necrosis
the death of cells or tissue, typically from injury or disease; more severe and sudden than degeneration
- regeneration
the regrowth or repair of tissue or cells
- healing
the process of recovering from injury or disease
文法句型
degeneration + of + body part / tissue / organ
tissue degeneration
cell degeneration
用法筆記
A technical term in medicine and biology. Frequently specifies the affected tissue or organ: cartilage degeneration, nerve degeneration, retinal degeneration, liver degeneration.