Pliable
“Pliable”是形容词,有两个主要含义:一是物理上柔韧的、易弯曲的,如”pliable branches”(柔韧的树枝);二是性格上易受影响的、顺从的,如”a pliable mind”(易受影响的头脑)。褒义时可表示灵活变通,贬义时可暗示缺乏主见。
- “The leather becomes more pliable after being treated with oil.” (皮革涂油后变得更加柔软。)
- “Young minds are pliable and absorb new ideas quickly.” (年幼的心灵易于塑造,能迅速吸收新思想。)
- “She shaped the pliable clay into a small bowl.” (她把柔软的陶土捏成了一只小碗。)
“Pliable”源自法语”pliable”,来自拉丁语”plicare”(折叠、弯曲)。“Plicare”也是”complicate”(使复杂)、“explicit”(明确的)和”implicit”(含蓄的)的词源。
“Pliable”由拉丁词根”pli-”(折叠)加形容词后缀”-able”构成,表示”可以……的”,即”可以弯曲的”。
“Pliable”在教育学和心理学中常用于讨论儿童认知的可塑性(plasticity)。在工艺和材料科学中,“pliable materials”(柔韧材料)是重要概念,如瑜伽垫、软管等。文学中描述人物”pliable”时,往往暗示其容易被人左右。
- 固定搭配: “pliable material” (柔韧材料), “pliable mind” (易受影响的头脑), “pliable branches” (柔韧的树枝)
词根”pli-”意为”折叠”——能折叠的就是”pliable”(柔韧的),与”apply”(应用)中的”pli”同源。
“The yoga instructor demonstrated how pliable the human body can become with daily practice.” (瑜伽教练展示了人体通过每日练习可以变得多么柔韧。)