dictate
/dɪkˈteɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɪkteɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdik-ˌtāt dik-ˈtāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈdɪk.teɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɪk.teɪt/ (ame, ipa)
dictate — 動詞
- dictatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- dictateshe / she / it
- dictatedpast simple
- dictating-ing form
1. to order someone to do something in a forceful way, using your power or position
命令；指揮
以權威強制要求他人遵從
to order someone to do something in a forceful way, using your power or position and leaving no room for discussion or refusal
The new manager tried to dictate how everyone should do their work, which upset the team.
新來的經理試圖命令大家該如何工作，這讓團隊很不高興。
dictate + how-clause for ordering procedures
Kian refused to let anyone dictate what he should study at university.
Kian 拒絕讓任何人指揮他大學該讀什麼科系。
The government should not dictate what ordinary people can wear in public.
政府不應該命令一般民眾在公共場合穿什麼衣服。
Samir’s boss kept dictating every detail of the project, leaving no room for his own ideas.
Samir 的老闆不停地指揮專案的每個細節，不給他留發揮自己想法的空間。
文法句型
dictate + that-clause
dictate + wh-clause
dictate to + person + wh-clause
dictate + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used with ‘to’ before the person being ordered: ‘dictate to someone.’ This sense usually carries a negative connotation of unreasonable or excessive control.
常見錯誤
2. to be the deciding factor that controls or determines how a situation develops,
決定；支配
影響或決定事情的發展方向
to be the deciding factor that controls or determines how a situation develops, what choices are possible, or what must happen next
The weather will dictate whether we hold the wedding indoors or outdoors.
天氣將決定我們在戶外還是在室內舉行婚禮。
dictate whether + choice between two options
Customer demand often dictates which products a company decides to develop.
顧客需求往往決定一家公司要開發哪些產品。
The rules of the game dictate that each player must wear a helmet at all times.
比賽規則規定每位選手必須全程戴頭盔。
Femi’s work schedule dictates when he can take his holiday each year.
Femi 的工作時間表決定他每年何時能休假。
- determine
more neutral; focuses on outcome rather than force
- govern
suggests a system of rules or principles controlling a process
- necessitate
stresses that something is made unavoidable
文法句型
dictate + that-clause
dictate + wh-clause
dictate + noun phrase
be dictated by + noun phrase
用法筆記
The subject is typically a rule, condition, external factor, or situation, not a person. Often appears in passive form: ‘it is dictated that…’ or ‘be dictated by [circumstances].’
常見錯誤
3. to say words out loud so that another person can write them down or a machine ca
口述；聽寫
唸出內容讓他人或機器記錄
to say words out loud so that another person can write them down or a machine can record them, especially in a professional or office setting
The doctor dictated a letter to her assistant after examining the patient.
醫生看完病人後，向助理口述了一封信。
dictate + noun + to + person
Maeve finds it easier to dictate her notes into a voice recorder than to type them.
Maeve 發現把自己的筆記口述進錄音機比打字更容易。
dictate + noun + into + device
Before computers became common, many bosses would dictate letters to their secretaries.
在電腦普及之前，許多老闆會向祕書口述信件。
The lawyer dictated the witness’s statement word for word into the recording machine.
律師一字一句地把證人的陳述口述進錄音機。
- transcribe
to write down what someone else has dictated
文法句型
dictate + noun phrase + to + person
dictate + noun phrase + into + device
dictate to + person
用法筆記
Common in office and professional contexts. The passive form ‘be dictated to’ (sense 3) means having someone read words for you to write down — do not confuse with ‘be dictated to’ from sense 1, which means being ordered around.
常見錯誤
dictate — 名詞
- dictatesingular
- dictatesplural
1. a rule or principle that must be obeyed, either because someone in power has set
命令；原則
必須遵從的強制性指示或準則
a rule or principle that must be obeyed, either because someone in power has set it or because you hold it as a personal standard to guide your behaviour
The company’s dress code is a dictate that all workers must respect.
公司的服裝規定是每位員工都必須遵守的命令。
Ayana follows the dictates of her conscience rather than the opinions of others.
Ayana 遵循自己良心的指引，而不是別人對她的期待。
the dictates of + abstract principle
The fashion dictates of the 1980s included bright colours and very big hair.
1980 年代的時尚原則包括鮮豔色彩和非常蓬鬆的髮型。
The software was designed to follow the dictates of the EU data protection law.
該軟體是依據歐盟資料保護法的規定來設計的。
- rule
more general; does not carry the formal weight of ‘dictate’
- commandment
stronger religious or moral tone
- edict
a formal order issued by an authority, especially a government
文法句型
the dictates of + noun phrase
dictate + that-clause
用法筆記
Often appears in the plural form ‘dictates’ when referring to a set of principles or demands. The phrase ‘dictates of [conscience / fashion / law]’ is a common fixed pattern in formal writing.