A demotion is when someone’s rank or job moves down. They still have work — they are not thrown out — but the new position is lower or less important. A manager may become a regular staff member; a soldier may lose a stripe.

A demotion降職 is when someone's rank or job moves down是指一個人的職級或工作往下降。They他們 still have work還是有工作——they are not thrown out不是被開除——but the new position is lower or less important但新的職位比較低、比較不重要。A manager may become a regular staff member一個主管可能會變成一般員工；a soldier may lose a stripe一個軍人可能會被拔掉一個階級章。

Workplaces and the army use this word most. People also stretch it: a smaller office, a quieter role, even a sports player sent to a weaker team can all feel like a demotion, though actually no one has to change a title for the feeling to be there.

Workplaces and the army職場和軍隊 use this word most最常用到這個字。People also stretch it大家也會把這個字用得更廣：a smaller office, a quieter role一間比較小的辦公室、一個比較不起眼的角色，even a sports player sent to a weaker team甚至運動員被下放到比較弱的球隊，can all feel like a demotion都可能讓人覺得像是被降職，though actually no one has to change a title for the feeling to be there不過其實不用真的換頭銜，也會有這種感覺。

It is the opposite of a promotion. It can be a punishment after a mistake, or it can happen when a company shrinks and there are fewer high jobs left.

It它 is the opposite of a promotion是升職（promotion）的相反。It它 can be a punishment after a mistake可能是犯錯之後的懲罰，or it can happen when a company shrinks and there are fewer high jobs left也可能是公司縮編、高階職位變少的時候發生的。

It sounds a little official; in the corridor people more often say they got moved down.

It這個字 sounds a little official聽起來有點公文式、正式；in the corridor people more often say they got moved down私底下大家比較常說自己「被調去比較低的位子」。