transpose

/trænˈspəʊz/ (bre, ipa) · [trænspˈoz] /trænˈspəʊz/ (ame, ipa) · [trænspˈoz] /tran(t)s-ˈpōz How to pronounce transpose (audio)/ (ame, mw)

transpose — 動詞

  • transposepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • transposeshe / she / it
  • transposedpast simple
  • transposing-ing form

1. to exchange the places of two items, or to shift one thing to a new position

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

對調；調換

交換位置或改變順序

to exchange the places of two items, or to shift one thing to a new position

例句

Zara noticed the sign writer had transposed the last two letters of her name.

Zara 發現招牌師傅把她名字的最後兩個字母對調了。

transpose + letters/characters

The editor transposed the second and third paragraphs to improve the flow.

編輯調換了第二段和第三段的位置，讓文章更流暢。

transpose + [item] and [item]

同義詞
  • swap

    more informal; used for a direct two-way exchange

  • switch

    similar to swap but broader; can mean changing one thing for another without exchange

  • interchange

    closest in register to transpose; often used for ideas or roles rather than physical objects

  • rearrange

    broader; changing the order of several items, not limited to two

文法句型

transpose + noun

transpose + noun + and + noun

用法筆記

In everyday conversation, 'swap' or 'switch' sounds much more natural than 'transpose.' This word is most at home in editing, printing, and technical contexts.

常見錯誤

❌I transposed phone numbers with her.
✅I swapped phone numbers with her.
💡In casual situations, 'swap' or 'switch' is the natural choice; 'transpose' feels stiff and overly formal.

2. to perform or write out a musical work in a new key, shifting all the notes high

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

移調；轉調

把樂曲改成不同的調性演奏

to perform or write out a musical work in a new key, shifting all the notes higher or lower

例句

Amara transposed the hymn from C major down to A major for the children's choir.

Amara 把聖歌從 C 大調移調到 A 大調，讓兒童唱詩班來唱。

transpose from [key] to [key]

The guitarist used a capo to transpose the song without learning new chord shapes.

吉他手用移調夾來轉調，這樣就不用學新的和弦指法。

同義詞
  • modulate

    more technical; usually refers to changing key within a piece rather than rewriting the whole piece in a new key

文法句型

transpose + noun + from...to...

transpose + noun + up/down by...

用法筆記

Only used for changing the key of music. The object must be a musical work, a part, or a passage — never a person or a physical object.

常見錯誤

❌I transposed the song to sheet music.
✅I transcribed the song to sheet music.
💡'Transpose' means changing the key, not writing music down from a recording. Use 'transcribe' for that.

3. in algebra, to shift a term across the equals sign, flipping its sign from posit

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

移項

把方程式中的項移至等號另一邊並變號

in algebra, to shift a term across the equals sign, flipping its sign from positive to negative or the reverse

例句

To solve for x, transpose the constant term to the right-hand side of the equation.

要解出 x，先把常數項移項到方程式的右邊。

transpose + [term] + to the [side]

Dmitri carefully transposed each variable, double-checking that every sign had been reversed.

Dmitri 小心翼翼地移項每個變數，反覆檢查每個符號是否都已變號。

文法句型

transpose + noun + to the other side

transpose — 名詞