modulation

/ˌmɒdjəˈleɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmɑːdʒəˈleɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmä-jə-ˈlā-shən/ (ame, mw)

modulation — 名詞

  • modulationsingular
  • modulationsplural

1. the deliberate adjustment of the pitch, loudness, or rhythm of your voice so tha

1.名詞B2
釋義

語調變化

調整音量、音高等以達表達效果

the deliberate adjustment of the pitch, loudness, or rhythm of your voice so that what you say sounds more expressive or has a stronger emotional effect

例句

Joaquín used subtle modulation of his voice to keep the audience engaged throughout his speech.

Joaquín 在演講中運用了細膩的語調變化，讓觀眾從頭到尾都保持專注。

collocation: subtle modulation of voice

Professional voice actors train for years to master the modulation needed for different animated characters.

專業配音員需要多年訓練才能掌握不同動畫角色所需的語調變化技巧。

同義詞
  • inflection

    focuses specifically on grammatical or tonal pitch changes in speech, often unconsciously made

  • intonation

    describes the overall rise and fall of the voice across a sentence rather than deliberate adjustments

  • pitch variation

    more technical and narrower; refers only to changes in highness or lowness of sound

文法句型

modulation + of + noun

subtle/voice modulation

用法筆記

Often used in the context of public speaking, acting, and broadcasting. Countable uses (e.g. 'a modulation') refer to a specific instance of voice change.

常見錯誤

❌She used good modulations in her presentation' (overuse of plural).
✅She used good modulation in her presentation.
💡'modulation' is usually uncountable when referring to the general skill or technique.

2. a small but deliberate change made to a plan, system, process, or behaviour in o

2.名詞B2
釋義

調整；微調

為改善或適應所做的細微改變

a small but deliberate change made to a plan, system, process, or behaviour in order to improve it or make it suitable for new conditions

例句

The chef made a subtle modulation to the recipe by reducing the salt and adding fresh herbs.

主廚對食譜做了細微調整，減少了鹽的用量並加入新鮮香草。

collocation: subtle modulation to

After staff feedback, the company introduced a modulation of its remote-work policy for better flexibility.

聽取員工意見後，公司調整了遠距工作政策，讓制度更具彈性。

同義詞
  • adjustment

    broader and more common in everyday use; does not carry the nuance of fine-tuning

  • fine-tuning

    more informal and implies very precise, small-scale corrections

  • modification

    can refer to larger or more structural changes than 'modulation' typically suggests

文法句型

modulation + of + noun

a modulation in + noun

用法筆記

Countable when referring to a specific instance of change ('a modulation in policy'). Uncountable when referring to the general act of adjusting ('requires careful modulation').

常見錯誤

❌We need a big modulation of the budget' (too large a change for this word).
✅We need a slight modulation of the budget.
💡'modulation' implies small, fine-tuned adjustments, not major overhauls.

3. the process by which a living organism adjusts the level or activity of a biolog

3.名詞C1
釋義

調控

生物系統調節生理功能的過程

the process by which a living organism adjusts the level or activity of a biological function, such as hormone secretion or immune response, in reaction to internal or external signals

例句

The modulation of hormone levels is essential for maintaining the body's natural sleep-wake rhythm.

荷爾蒙濃度的調控對於維持人體自然的睡眠—清醒週期至關重要。

collocation: modulation of hormone levels

Researchers are studying the modulation of immune responses to develop more effective treatments for autoimmune diseases.

研究人員正在研究免疫反應的調控機制，以開發更有效的自體免疫疾病療法。

同義詞
  • regulation

    more general and common; implies maintaining within set boundaries rather than actively adjusting

  • adjustment

    simpler and less technical; preferred in everyday contexts over 'modulation' for biological processes

文法句型

modulation + of + noun (biological process)

用法筆記

Almost exclusively used in formal scientific or medical writing. The countable form ('a modulation in immune activity') appears in research papers but is rare in general English.

常見錯誤

❌The modulation of the coffee machine' (wrong domain).
✅The modulation of enzyme activity in the liver.
💡In this sense, 'modulation' is restricted to biological, chemical, or physical processes.

4. a deliberate move within a piece of music to a different tonal centre, often use

4.名詞B2
釋義

轉調

樂曲中從一個調轉到另一個調

a deliberate move within a piece of music to a different tonal centre, often used to create a fresh mood, heighten emotion, or add structural variety

例句

The sudden modulation from C major to A minor gave the song a beautifully melancholic feeling.

從 C 大調突然轉到 A 小調，賦予這首歌一種優美的憂鬱感。

grammar pattern: modulation from [key] to [key]

Cyrus admired how the jazz pianist used a rapid modulation to surprise the audience mid-solo.

Cyrus 很欣賞這位爵士鋼琴手在獨奏中突然轉調，給觀眾帶來驚喜。

同義詞
  • key change

    the more common everyday term for non-musicians; 'modulation' is the formal music-theory term

  • tonal shift

    broader; can describe any change in tonal centre, not always a classical modulation

文法句型

modulation + from + key + to + key

a sudden modulation

用法筆記

Countable when referring to a specific key change ('a dramatic modulation from G to D'). Uncountable when referring to the general technique ('Modulation is a common device in classical sonatas').

常見錯誤

❌The song has a modulation to a faster tempo' (confusing key change with tempo change).
✅The song has a modulation from C major to G major.
💡'modulation' in music refers specifically to key, not tempo or dynamics.

5. a method of transmitting information by altering a property — such as frequency,

5.名詞C1
釋義

調變

改變載波特性以傳送資訊的技術

a method of transmitting information by altering a property — such as frequency, amplitude, or phase — of a carrier wave that carries the signal over a distance

例句

Frequency modulation provides better sound quality than amplitude modulation for music radio broadcasts.

在音樂廣播中，頻率調變比振幅調變提供更好的音質。

collocation: frequency modulation / amplitude modulation

Modern Wi-Fi networks use sophisticated quadrature amplitude modulation to transmit data at very high speeds.

現代 Wi-Fi 網路使用先進的正交振幅調變技術，以極高速度傳輸資料。

同義詞
  • encoding

    broader; refers to any method of converting information into a signal, not specifically carrier-wave variation

文法句型

modulation + of + noun (signal/carrier wave)

frequency/amplitude modulation

用法筆記

Technical term used in engineering and telecommunications. Often appears as part of compound nouns: 'frequency modulation (FM)', 'amplitude modulation (AM)', 'phase modulation (PM)'. These compound forms are uncountable.

常見錯誤

❌The radio uses sound modulations' (vague and non-technical).
✅The radio station broadcasts using frequency modulation.
💡Be precise about which type of modulation is being used.