Privatization is the act itself: a government sells, or hands over, something it owns or runs — a company, a railway, a power plant, sometimes water, post, or even a hospital service — so that private people or firms own it and try to make money from it.

Privatization民營化 is the act itself指的就是這個動作本身： a government sells, or hands over, something it owns or runs政府把自己擁有或經營的東西賣掉或交出去—— a company, a railway, a power plant, sometimes water, post, or even a hospital service像是公司、鐵路、發電廠，有時候是水、郵政，甚至醫院服務—— so that private people or firms own it and try to make money from it好讓私人或私人公司擁有它，並試著從中賺錢。

You meet this word in the news and in politics, not when you mean 'keep this secret' or 'this is my private room'; that everyday 'private' is a neighbour, not the same idea.

You meet this word in the news and in politics你會在新聞和政治話題裡遇到這個字， not when you mean 'keep this secret' or 'this is my private room'不是「keep this secret」（保密）或「this is my private room」（這是我的私人房間）那種意思； that everyday 'private' is a neighbour, not the same idea日常說的那個「private」是鄰居，不是同一回事。

The tone is formal. People argue over it a lot.

The tone語氣 is是 formal正式的。 People argue over it a lot大家對這個議題爭論很多。

Some say privatization makes a service cheaper and sharper, because the new owners must compete. Others say it makes a few people rich and can leave ordinary families paying more for trains, water, or electricity.

Some say有人說 privatization makes a service cheaper and sharper民營化會讓服務變得更便宜、更有效率， because the new owners must compete因為新的所有者必須互相競爭。 Others say也有人說 it makes a few people rich這會讓少數人變有錢 and can leave ordinary families paying more for trains, water, or electricity卻讓一般家庭要為搭車、用水或用電付更多錢。

Though actually, speakers stretch it. 'The privatization of health care' may mean a slow slide toward private payment, not one big sale on one day.

Though actually不過實際上， speakers stretch it大家會把這個字用得更寬。 'The privatization of health care'「the privatization of health care」（醫療的民營化） may mean a slow slide toward private payment可能指的是慢慢走向私人付費， not one big sale on one day而不是某一天一次性的大出售。

The opposite move — the state taking something back — is nationalization.

The opposite move相反的動作—— the state taking something back國家把東西收回來—— is nationalization叫做國有化。