Breeding
“Breeding” 是 “breed” 的动名词/名词。常见义:动物或植物的繁殖、人工选育;饲养;引申为家庭教育、举止修养(a sign of good breeding)。在生物学和农业语境中尤为常见。
- “The farm specializes in horse breeding.” (这个农场专司马匹繁育。)
- “Mosquitoes are active during the breeding season.” (蚊子在繁殖季节特别活跃。)
- “Politeness and patience are often seen as signs of good breeding.” (礼貌与耐心常被视为良好教养的表现。)
“Breed” 源于古英语 “brēdan”,原义与喂养、孵化、养育相关,后专指繁殖与品种培育。
词根 “breed” 加 “-ing” 构成动名词,表示繁殖行为或饲养过程。
农业报道中 “selective breeding” 指选育优良品种;旧式英语里 “good breeding” 强调上流礼仪,现代更常说 “good manners” 或 “upbringing”。
- 原形: breed
- 过去式: bred
- 固定搭配: “breeding ground” (滋生地/繁殖地), “selective breeding” (选育), “good breeding” (良好教养)
“breed” 是繁殖,“-ing” 把过程名词化——breeding 就是繁育这件事本身。
“Scientists studied the breeding patterns of birds to understand why some species are declining.” (科学家研究鸟类的繁殖模式,以了解某些物种为何数量下降。)