descending
descending — 形容詞
1. positioned or moving in a downward direction; used especially for parts of the b
下行（身體部位）
身體部位朝下延伸的
positioned or moving in a downward direction; used especially for parts of the body or bodily structures that run from a higher point to a lower one, such as blood vessels, nerves, or sections of the intestine.
The surgeon carefully examined the descending colon during the routine checkup.
外科醫師在例行檢查中仔細檢查了下行結腸。
collocation: descending colon / descending aorta
Blood flows through the descending aorta from the chest down into the abdomen.
血液經由下行主動脈從胸部往下流向腹部。
collocation: descending aorta (body part)
Damage to the descending nerve pathway can cause weakness in the legs.
下行神經通路受損可能導致腿部無力。
The radiologist pointed to the descending part of the duodenum on the scan.
放射科醫師在掃描圖上指出十二指腸的下行部分。
- ascending
moving in an upward direction; used for the same anatomical contexts (ascending aorta, ascending colon)
文法句型
descending + noun (body part)
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). The most common collocations are anatomical: descending aorta, descending colon, descending nerve tract. Outside of medical contexts, the simple adjective 'downward' is preferred.
常見錯誤
descending — 動詞
1. to move from a higher position, level, or altitude to a lower one — whether by w
下降
從高處往低處移動
to move from a higher position, level, or altitude to a lower one — whether by walking, flying, riding, or through natural movement.
Amina watched the sun descend behind the desert dunes, painting the sky in shades of orange.
Amina 看著夕陽落到沙漠沙丘後方，將天空染成深淺不一的橙色。
The flight attendants announced that the plane would begin to descend toward Taoyuan Airport.
空服員宣布飛機將開始下降，準備前往桃園機場降落。
intransitive: descend + toward/preposition
The hikers descended the mountain trail before the evening fog rolled in.
登山者在傍晚起霧前沿著山路下山。
Cold air from the mountains descended into the valley during the night.
山區的冷空氣在夜間降入山谷。
The elevator descended slowly from the twentieth floor to the lobby.
電梯從二十樓慢慢下降到一樓大廳。
文法句型
descend + adverb/preposition (intransitive)
descend + noun (transitive)
用法筆記
This is the most general sense. It can be used with or without a direct object. When used transitively, the object is the surface or space being travelled down ('descend the stairs', 'descend the slope'). 'Descend' is more formal than 'go down'.
常見錯誤
2. to move downward along something by using your hands and feet, or by holding ont
爬下
沿著階梯或繩索向下移動
to move downward along something by using your hands and feet, or by holding onto a support such as a rail, rope, or ladder.
The firefighter descended the ladder with the small child wrapped safely in a blanket.
消防隊員抱著裹在毯子裡的小孩爬下梯子。
transitive: descend + the ladder
Kenji carefully descended the steep iron staircase, keeping both hands on the railing.
Kenji 雙手緊握扶手，小心翼翼地走下陡峭的鐵梯。
The rescue team descended the cliff face using ropes and harnesses.
救援隊用繩索和安全吊帶沿著懸崖面爬下。
Wei descended the narrow wooden ladder into the basement one rung at a time.
Wei 一階一階地爬下通往地下室的狹窄木梯。
- climb down
informal phrasal verb with the same meaning
- come down
less specific; may not imply effort
文法句型
descend + noun (ladder, stairs, rope, slope)
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 ('go down'), this sense emphasises active effort and careful foot- or hand-holds. The object is the structure being climbed down (ladder, rope, stairs, slope). 'Climb down' is the informal alternative.
常見錯誤
3. to slope, incline, or lead downward; said of a road, path, piece of land, or oth
向下傾斜
路面或地形坡度朝下延伸
to slope, incline, or lead downward; said of a road, path, piece of land, or other surface that goes from a higher point to a lower point.
The garden path descends gently toward the small pond surrounded by bamboo.
花園小徑緩緩向下傾斜，通往四周種滿竹子的小池塘。
intransitive: descend + adverb (gently) + toward
A narrow road descends the hillside, curving past old stone farmhouses.
一條狹窄的道路沿著山坡向下延伸，蜿蜒經過古老的石造農舍。
transitive: descend + the hillside
Behind the school playground, the land descends steeply to the river.
學校操場後方的地勢急遽向下傾斜，直達河邊。
The ski run descends the mountain through a forest of pine trees.
這條滑雪道穿過松樹林，沿著山坡向下延伸。
- slope downward
more descriptive of angle; 'descend' is more formal
- drop
suggests a sharper change in height
- fall away
describes a surface dropping off suddenly
文法句型
descend + adverb (gently, steeply, gradually)
descend + noun (the hill, the slope)
用法筆記
This sense describes the shape or direction of a surface — the subject is the path, road, or land itself. The adverb (gently, steeply, gradually) is common and tells the degree of slope. Distinguish from sense 1 where a person or thing actively moves downward.
常見錯誤
4. to come down suddenly and often in large numbers, especially to attack, confront
猛然降臨
突然襲擊或大批湧至
to come down suddenly and often in large numbers, especially to attack, confront, or overwhelm someone or something.
The eagle descended on the rabbit with astonishing speed and precision.
老鷹以驚人的速度和精準度猛然撲向兔子。
descend on + noun (for attack)
Police helicopters descended on the warehouse where the suspects were hiding.
警用直升機突然降臨在嫌犯藏身的倉庫上。
A swarm of locusts descended on the farmland, destroying crops within hours.
一大群蝗蟲降臨農田，幾小時內就摧毀了作物。
Dozens of journalists descended on the courthouse when the verdict was announced.
判決宣布後，數十名記者湧至法院。
Tourists descend on the coastal town every summer, crowding the narrow streets.
每年夏天遊客湧入這座沿海小鎮，擠滿了狹窄的街道。
- swoop down on
more vivid and specific to birds or aircraft
- pounce on
implies a sudden, aggressive grab; used for animals and people
- swarm
suggests a large group arriving at once
文法句型
descend on/upon + noun
用法筆記
The preposition 'on' or 'upon' is required after the verb when naming the target. The subject is typically a bird of prey, police, reporters, or crowds — anything that arrives suddenly and in force. The tone ranges from literal attack to figurative crowding.
常見錯誤
5. to move from a broad, general, or principle-level topic to more narrow, specific
由廣入細
從廣泛主題進入具體討論
to move from a broad, general, or principle-level topic to more narrow, specific, or detailed points in a discussion, argument, or written text.
The lecturer descended from the general theory of democracy to the specific case of local elections.
講師從民主的普遍理論切入到地方選舉的具體案例。
pattern: descend from + general + to + specific
The report descends gradually from global economic trends to regional market data.
這份報告由全球經濟趨勢逐步深入到區域市場數據。
In her talk, Fatima descended from broad educational philosophy to practical classroom strategies.
Fatima 在演講中從廣義的教育哲學談到實際的課堂策略。
The judge's ruling descended from constitutional principles to the particular facts of this case.
法官的判決從憲法原則推衍到本案的具體事實。
- move from general to specific
more transparent but less formal; 'descend' has a logical-direction flavour
- narrow down
informal phrasal verb for the same progression
文法句型
descend from + broad topic + to + specific detail
用法筆記
This sense is formal and used primarily in academic, legal, or analytical writing. The structure always uses 'from [general] to [specific]'. The verb is intransitive — the subject is the discussion or text itself, not a person moving physically.
常見錯誤
6. to have a specific person, group, or source as one's ancestor or origin; to be h
源自
從祖先或來源傳承而來
to have a specific person, group, or source as one's ancestor or origin; to be handed down across generations through birth, tradition, or inheritance.
The royal family descends from a long line of kings who ruled the region for centuries.
這個王室家族源自一長串曾統治該地區長達數世紀的國王。
pattern: descend from + ancestor/lineage
This festival tradition descends from ancient harvest celebrations held over three thousand years ago.
這個節慶傳統源自三千多年前舉行的古代豐收祭典。
Diego is descended from a family of musicians who have performed in Seville since the 1800s.
Diego 出身於一個音樂世家，自 1800 年代起就在塞維亞演出。
The Korean language is thought to descend from a language family spoken across Northeast Asia.
韓語被認為源自一種曾在東北亞廣泛使用的語系。
The title of baron descends through the eldest son in each generation of the family.
男爵頭銜在家族中每一代由長子繼承。
- be descended from
more common for individual ancestry
- come from
simpler and less formal
- originate from
used for things, traditions, and languages rather than people
文法句型
descend from + ancestor/source
be descended from + ancestor/source
用法筆記
Use 'descend from' for active lineage ('the family descends from…'). Use 'be descended from' to describe a person's heritage ('she is descended from…'). The verb can also describe traditions, languages, or titles being passed down, not just biological ancestry.
常見錯誤
7. to lower oneself to a worse level of behaviour, morality, or condition; to behav
淪落
降低品格或陷入糟糕狀態
to lower oneself to a worse level of behaviour, morality, or condition; to behave in a way that is less dignified, less honest, or more unpleasant than expected.
The politician refused to descend to spreading lies about his opponent during the campaign.
那位政治人物拒絕在競選期間淪落到散布關於對手的謊言。
pattern: descend to + gerund (spreading lies)
The polite disagreement between Olu and his brother quickly descended into a bitter argument about old grievances.
Olu 和哥哥之間原本有禮的歧見很快就淪為一場針對舊怨的激烈爭吵。
pattern: descend into + state (deterioration)
Sofia was disappointed that the conversation had descended to personal insults.
Sofia 很失望這場對話竟淪落到人身攻擊的地步。
The neighborhood had descended into chaos after the hurricane destroyed roads and power lines.
颶風摧毀道路和電線後，這個社區陷入了混亂。
I would never descend to cheating on an exam, no matter how difficult the subject.
無論科目多困難，我絕不會淪落到考試作弊的地步。
- stoop
more common in everyday English for the 'lower oneself' meaning
- sink
implies gradual deterioration rather than a single bad choice
- degenerate
more formal; implies progressive worsening
- rise above
to behave better than a bad situation or provocation
文法句型
descend to + noun/gerund (stoop to a level)
descend into + state (deteriorate into)
用法筆記
Two distinct constructions: (a) 'descend to + noun/gerund' = stoop to a low action ('descend to bribery'); (b) 'descend into + noun' = deteriorate into a state ('descend into chaos'). The first is about personal choice; the second describes a process that may be beyond anyone's control.