Decadence is a way of living — or a mood in a whole society — that other people judge as going downhill: too much pleasure, too little duty, low moral standards. The picture is of people who care more about wine, money, sex, and pretty things than about work, kindness, or the future.

Decadence Decadence is a way of living指一種生活方式 — or a mood in a whole society或者是整個社會的一種氛圍 — that other people judge as going downhill被其他人評斷為每況愈下: too much pleasure享樂太多, too little duty責任太少, low moral standards道德標準低落。The picture這幅畫面描繪的是一群人, than about work, kindness, or the future比起工作、善良或未來, care more about wine, money, sex, and pretty things他們更在乎酒、金錢、性和漂亮的東西。

Historians use it for empires they think grew soft before they fell.

Historians歷史學家 use it會用這個字 for empires形容那些帝國 they think grew soft他們認為變得軟弱 before they fell在衰亡之前。

Though actually, in ordinary talk today the moral finger-wagging is often lighter: a cake, a hotel, a bath can be called 'pure decadence', and that is a compliment — it means richly enjoyable, almost too much. The heavy meaning is still there in essays and news; the food-and-luxury meaning is the one advertising loves.

Though actually不過其實, in ordinary talk today在今天的日常說法裡, the moral finger-wagging道德上的指責 is often lighter常常比較輕: a cake一塊蛋糕, a hotel一間飯店, a bath一次泡澡 can be called都可以被稱為 'pure decadence,'「pure decadence」 and that is a compliment而且這是一種稱讚 — it means意思是 richly enjoyable享受得很豐盛, almost too much幾乎有點過頭。The heavy meaning那種比較沉重的意思 is still there in essays and news仍然存在於文章和新聞裡; the food-and-luxury meaning食物與奢華這個意思 is the one advertising loves則是廣告最愛用的。