Phlegmatic
“Phlegmatic”是形容词,形容一个人不易被情绪或外界刺激所激动,性情冷静、淡漠,有时甚至显得迟钝或缺乏热情。在医学传统中,它与”黏液质”(四种体液之一)相关,指性格沉稳、不易发怒的类型。
- “He remained phlegmatic even when the project fell apart.” (即使项目失败,他依然保持冷静。)
- “Her phlegmatic response surprised everyone in the heated debate.” (她在激烈辩论中的淡定反应让所有人惊讶。)
- “The phlegmatic coach never raised his voice during the game.” (这位沉着的教练在比赛中从未提高嗓门。)
“Phlegmatic”源自希腊语”phlegma”(黏液、痰),经拉丁语”phlegmaticus”进入英语。古希腊医学认为人体内四种体液(血液、黏液、黄胆汁、黑胆汁)决定性格,黏液质对应冷静、迟缓的性情。
“Phlegmatic”由词根”phlegm-”(黏液)与形容词后缀”-atic”构成,表示”具有……特征的”。
在西方古典医学与心理学传统中,“phlegmatic”是四气质理论(多血质、胆汁质、黏液质、抑郁质)之一,代表平和、冷静、不易激动的性格。现代英语中多用于描述人在压力或冲突面前泰然自若,有时略带”过于冷淡”的意味。
- 固定搭配: “phlegmatic temperament” (黏液质性格), “remain phlegmatic” (保持冷静)
将”phlegm”(痰、黏液)与”phlegmatic”联想:黏液质的人像黏稠的液体一样,流动缓慢、不易沸腾——即不易激动。
“When the fire alarm rang, everyone panicked except Tom. He walked out phlegmatically, as if nothing had happened.” (火警响起时,除了汤姆大家都慌了。他淡定地走出去,仿佛什么都没发生。)