A decibel is a unit for measuring how loud a sound is. People write it dB.

A decibel is a unit for measuring how loud a sound isdecibel是用來量聲音多大聲的單位 People write it dB大家會寫成dB

A soft whisper sits low on the scale; a motorbike or a concert sits much higher. The scale is not like a ruler in centimetres.

A soft whisper sits low on the scale; a motorbike or a concert sits much higher輕聲細語在這個量表上很低；機車或演唱會就高很多 The scale is not like a ruler in centimetres這個量表不像公分的尺那樣

If something is ten decibels louder, the jump is bigger than the number makes it look, because the scale is built in steps of ten. Scientists also use decibels for other kinds of signal, like radio, but in everyday English it is almost always about sound.

If something is ten decibels louder, the jump is bigger than the number makes it look如果某個東西大聲了十分貝，實際跳升的幅度比數字看起來的還要大 because the scale is built in steps of ten因為這個量表是以十為單位在跳的 Scientists also use decibels for other kinds of signal, like radio, but in everyday English it is almost always about sound科學家也會用decibel量其他種訊號，像無線電，但在日常英文裡幾乎都是在講聲音

People stretch it too: “Could you take it down a few decibels?” just means “please make it quieter,” and nobody is holding a meter.

People stretch it too大家也會延伸著用 Could you take it down a few decibels just means please make it quieterCould you take it down a few decibels意思就是可以小聲一點嗎 and nobody is holding a meter沒有人真的拿著儀器在量

One decibel is one tenth of a bel, an older unit you will almost never hear on its own.

One decibel is one tenth of a bel一分貝是十分之一bel an older unit you will almost never hear on its ownbel是個比較舊的單位，你幾乎不會單獨聽到它