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。
- “He coughed up phlegm after weeks of bronchitis.” (支气管炎数周后,他咳出了痰。)
- “The doctor asked whether the phlegm was clear or yellow.” (医生问痰是清的还是黄的。)
- “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。)