“衰微”常见的英文表达有 decline、wane、decay 或 be in decline,具体使用哪个词取决于语境:
decline:指逐渐变弱、减少或衰退,常用于描述经济、势力、健康等方面的衰落,适用范围较广。例如:
The once-thriving industry is now in decline.(曾经繁荣的产业如今正在衰微。)
The empire began to decline after centuries of dominance.(这个帝国在统治了几个世纪后开始衰微。)
wane:侧重于指力量、影响力、兴趣等逐渐减弱、消退,常带有一种自然、渐进的意味。例如:
His influence in the political circle has begun to wane.(他在政界的影响力开始衰微。)
As the years passed, her enthusiasm for the project began to wane.(随着岁月流逝,她对这个项目的热情开始衰微。)
decay:强调因老化、腐烂、缺乏维护等原因而逐渐衰败、毁坏,常用于描述物质、结构、社会制度等方面的衰微。例如:
The old building was in a state of decay due to years of neglect.(由于多年无人照管,这座老建筑处于衰微状态。)
The ancient civilization gradually decayed and disappeared.(这个古老的文明逐渐衰微并消失了。)
be in decline:是一个常用的短语,直接表达“处于衰微状态”,简洁明了。例如:
The traditional craft industry is in decline in this region.(这个地区的传统手工业正处于衰微状态。)