When something is dwindling, it is getting smaller and smaller, a little at a time — not in one sudden drop.

When something is dwindling當某個東西是 dwindling, it is它就是 getting smaller and smaller a little at a time一點一點地變得越來越小 — not in one sudden drop而不是一下子驟減.

We use it for numbers that keep falling (a dwindling number of shops), for money or food that is running out, and for hope or support that is slowly going away. Though actually, it almost always feels a bit sad or worried: the speaker can see the thing getting weaker, and they do not like it.

We use it我們會用它 for numbers that keep falling指持續下降的數字 (a dwindling number of shops像dwindling number of shops), for money or food that is running out也用在快用完的錢或食物, and以及 for hope or support that is slowly going away慢慢消失的希望或支持. Though actually雖然其實, it almost always feels a bit sad or worried它幾乎都帶著一點悲傷或擔心的感覺: the speaker can see the thing getting weaker說話者看得出那件事正在變弱, and而且 they do not like it他們不喜歡這樣.

You will hear it as a verb (the crowd was dwindling) and as a describing word in front of a noun (dwindling supplies). It is more a news-and-writing word than a playground word; in very simple talk people just say “getting smaller” or “running out.”

You will hear it你會聽到它 as a verb當動詞用 (the crowd was dwindling像the crowd was dwindling) and以及 as a describing word in front of a noun當形容詞放在名詞前面 (dwindling supplies像dwindling supplies). It is它更 more a news-and-writing word than a playground word是新聞和寫作用詞而不是小孩玩耍時的用詞; in very simple talk在非常簡單的口語裡 people just say人們就直接說 “getting smaller” or “running out.”「getting smaller」或「running out」.