“堕落”常见的英文表达有 “degenerate”、“decline”、“fall into decay/vice” 等,具体使用需根据语境:
1、 degenerate
动词:指道德、行为或品质的堕落、退化,常带有贬义。
例句:He degenerated into a criminal after losing his job.(失业后他堕落成了罪犯。)
形容词:形容堕落的、退化的状态。
例句:The once prosperous city has now become degenerate.(这座曾经繁荣的城市如今已堕落不堪。)
2、 decline
动词:更侧重于描述逐渐衰落、退步的过程,可用于抽象概念(如道德、社会风气)或具体事物。
例句:The moral standards of society are in decline.(社会道德标准正在堕落。)
名词:表示衰落、下降。
例句:The decline of the family unit is a cause for concern.(家庭单位的堕落令人担忧。)
3、 fall into decay/vice
短语:更形象地表达陷入腐化、堕落的状态。
例句:The old building has fallen into decay.(那座老建筑已陷入腐朽。)
例句:He fell into vice after moving to the big city.(搬到大城市后,他堕落了。)
选择建议:若强调道德或行为的堕落,degenerate 更直接;
若描述逐渐衰落的过程,decline 更合适;
若表达陷入腐化或恶习,fall into decay/vice 更生动。