November 2, 2012 =========

☆ decline　衰退する

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Today’s word is used to talk about things like countries, economies,
and numbers that are declining. Here are some examples:

The number of staff declined from 2,000 to just 900.
There is a declining birthrate in Japan.
The economy is declining, and people are angry at the government.

This word also used in a formal way, to mean “no” or “refuse”.
I offered him a coffee, but he declined politely.
She declined their invitation.
He declined to comment on the rumor.

Can you make a sentence using either form of this word?

Bye,
Chris
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今日の言葉は、国や経済、または衰退している数値などに使う単語です。
例を挙げてみましょう：

The number of staff declined from 2,000 to just 900.
(スタッフの数は2,000人から900人に衰退した)

There is a declining birthrate in Japan.
(日本の出生率は減少している)

The economy is declining, and people are angry at the government.
(経済は衰退しており、国民は政府に対して怒りを感じている)

また、“decline”は、“断る、拒否をする”の意味もあります。

I offered him a coffee, but he declined politely.
(彼にコーヒーを勧めたが、丁重に断られた)

She declined their invitation.
(彼女は、彼らの招待を断った)

He declined to comment on the rumor.
(彼は、うわさについてのコメントを断った)

どちらかの意味で、この言葉を使って文章を作ってみましょう。

それでは！
クリス