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Phlegm

“Phlegm”是名词,本义为呼吸道分泌的黏稠液体,即“痰”。在古典医学与性格理论中,phlegm 亦指四种体液之一,引申为“冷漠、迟钝”;现代仍可见 “with great phlegm” 表示“极其冷静沉着”,但此义较文绉,日常多指生理上的痰。

  1. “He coughed up phlegm after weeks of bronchitis.” (支气管炎数周后,他咳出了痰。)
  2. “The doctor asked whether the phlegm was clear or yellow.” (医生问痰是清的还是黄的。)
  3. “She faced the crisis with remarkable phlegm and clear judgment.” (她以非凡的冷静和清醒的判断应对危机。)

来自希腊语 phlegma(炎症、黏液),与 phlegein(燃烧)相关。古希腊医学的“四体液说”中,phlegm 代表黏液质,对应冷静、迟缓的性格类型。

该词为单音节借词,无英语词缀可析。

历史上 “phlegmatic”(冷静的、迟钝的)与 “phlegm” 同源,反映体液学说对欧洲文化的深远影响。现代英语中生理义占主导;用 “phlegm” 形容性格已属书面或文学用法。医学语境常描述感冒、肺炎等症状。

  • 固定搭配: “cough up phlegm” (咳痰), “clear phlegm” (清痰), “with great phlegm” (极其沉着)

发音类似 “flem”,联想感冒时喉咙里的黏液;性格义则联想 “phlegmatic”(冷静的)——由同一词源衍生。

“After the long flight, he developed a cough and struggled to clear the phlegm from his chest before the important meeting.” (长途飞行后他咳嗽起来,重要会议前费力地清着胸中的痰。)