To depopulate a place is to greatly reduce the number of people living there, so the area becomes much emptier. War, famine, disease, a factory closing, or a long flight of young people to the city can depopulate a town or a countryside. It is a strong word: not “a few families moved”, but a place left with far fewer lives in it.

To depopulate a place讓一個地方人口減少 is就是 to greatly reduce大幅減少 the number of people living there住在那裡的人數，so所以 the area becomes那地方變得 much emptier空曠許多。War戰爭、famine饑荒、disease疾病、a factory closing工廠關閉，or或者 a long flight of young people to the city年輕人大量外流到城市，can depopulate a town or a countryside都可能讓一座城鎮或一片鄉村人口銳減。It is a strong word這是個語氣很重的詞：not "a few families moved"不是「幾戶人家搬走了」，but而是 a place left with far fewer lives in it一個地方剩下的人少了許多。

Writers use it in history, news, and reports. Though actually, English uses it two ways. Someone or something can depopulate a region (an army, a plague). A place can also be said to depopulate as people leave on their own.

Writers use it人們用這個詞 in history in reports and news在歷史、新聞、報告裡。Though actually不過其實，English uses it two ways英文有兩種用法。Someone or something can depopulate a region某人或某物可以讓一個地區depopulate（人口銳減） (an army, a plague)（比方軍隊、瘟疫）。A place can also be said to depopulate一個地方也可以自己depopulate as people leave on their own當人們自行離開的時候。

It does not have to mean that people were killed — they may simply have gone — but in war reporting the human cost is often in the background. An older, rarer cousin is depeople; populate is the everyday opposite direction.

It does not have to mean that people were killed它不一定表示有人被殺害——they may simply have gone他們可能只是離開了——but但是 in war reporting在戰爭報導裡 the human cost is often in the background人命的代價常常隱在背後。An older, rarer cousin is depeople一個更古老、更少見的近親詞是depeople；populate is the everyday opposite directionpopulate則是日常生活裡相反的方向。