它工作得很好

merge into table1 t1
using (select * from table2) t2
on (t1.empid = t2.empid)
when matched then update set t1.salary = t2.salary

对table2使用description而不是desc，

update
  table1
set
  value = (select code from table2 where description = table1.value)
where
  exists (select 1 from table2 where description = table1.value)
  and
  table1.updatetype = 'blah'
;

UPDATE table1 t1
SET t1.value = 
    (select t2.CODE from table2 t2 
     where t1.value = t2.DESC) 
WHERE t1.UPDATETYPE='blah';

update table1  a 
   set a.col1='Y' 
 where exists(select 1 
                from table2 b
               where a.col1=b.col1 
                 and a.col2=b.col2
             )

用WHERE子句合并:

MERGE into table1
USING table2
ON (table1.id = table2.id)
WHEN MATCHED THEN UPDATE SET table1.startdate = table2.start_date
WHERE table1.startdate > table2.start_date;

您需要WHERE子句，因为ON子句中引用的列不能更新。

只是作为一个完整的问题，因为我们谈论的是Oracle，这也可以做到:

declare
begin
  for sel in (
    select table2.code, table2.desc
    from table1
    join table2 on table1.value = table2.desc
    where table1.updatetype = 'blah'
  ) loop
    update table1 
    set table1.value = sel.code
    where table1.updatetype = 'blah' and table1.value = sel.desc;    
  end loop;
end;
/