To arbitrate is to sit between two opposing sides and give an official decision about how the argument should be settled. The two sides agree, or the law already says, that they will accept what this person decides.

To arbitrate is to sit between two opposing sides and give an official decision about how the argument should be settledarbitrate指的是坐在對立雙方之間，對這場爭執該怎麼解決做出正式的裁決。The two sides agree, or the law already says雙方同意，或是法律已經規定, that they will accept what this person decides他們會接受這個人的決定。

Companies use it when they do not want a full court case. Countries sometimes ask someone to arbitrate a border fight. It is a formal, official verb — you would not usually say a parent “arbitrates” who gets the last dumpling, though the idea is close.

Companies use it when they do not want a full court case公司在不想打全套官司時會用這個方式。Countries sometimes ask someone to arbitrate a border fight國家有時候會請人來arbitrate邊界爭端。It is a formal, official verb這是一個正式、官方性質的動詞 — you would not usually say a parent "arbitrates" who gets the last dumpling你通常不會說父母「arbitrates」誰能吃最後一顆水餃, though the idea is close不過概念是接近的。

Though actually, the person who arbitrates is not mainly trying to make both sides happy. They are judging: who is right, or what the fair split is.

Though actually不過其實, the person who arbitrates is not mainly trying to make both sides happy做arbitrate這件事的人主要不是想讓雙方都開心。They are judging他們是在做判斷: who is right, or what the fair split is誰對，或是公平的分法是什麼。

The doing is arbitrate; the process is arbitration; the person is an arbitrator.

The doing is arbitrate這個動作叫arbitrate; the process is arbitration這個過程叫arbitration; the person is an arbitrator做這件事的人叫arbitrator。