小词详解 | plod

plod 英 [plɒd] 美 [plɑːd]
GRE

外刊例句

• Most of them, especially those controlled by the state, will continue to plod on in unsexy industries, such as steel or cement, for some time yet.
  大多数企业，尤其是那些由国有企业，在接下来的一段时间里，仍将继续在钢铁或水泥等乏味的行业里艰难前行。
  ——《经济学人》
• An older man with a walking stick plods in the direction a sign is pointing.
  一个拄着拐杖的老人迈着沉重的步伐朝着标志所指的方向走去。
  ——《纽约时报》

基本释义

[verb] walk doggedly and slowly with heavy steps
[动词] 迈着沉重的脚步，顽强而缓慢地行走

深入解读

Plod 一词词源不详，可能拟声自沉重缓慢行走时的声音，最早于16世纪60年代出现在英语中，即用来表示“沉重缓慢地行走、艰难吃力地行进”，比如：

• 那艘船缓慢驶入英国水域，沿英吉利海峡向北时，海关一直密切关注着它。
  As the boat plodded into British waters and up the English Channel, Customs had their eye on her.

从这个概念出发， plod 常引申指“埋头苦干、不厌其烦地工作、吃力地做事”，主要指在缺乏想象力、热情或兴趣的情况下，艰苦单调地埋头工作，比如：

• 那个勤勉的学生在埋头苦读一本大部头的课本。
  The industrious student is plodding through a huge text book.

而短语动词 plod along/on 还可以侧重表示“进展缓慢”，主要指以非常缓慢但恒定和审慎的步伐推进某个艰难枯燥的工作，比如：

• 他们正缓慢艰难地进行着谈判。一个唱红脸，一个唱白脸。
  They are plodding on with negotiations. One coaxes, the other coerces.

用作名词时， plod 相应表示“沉重缓慢的行走、沉重缓慢的脚步声”以及“吃力的工作”，比如：

• 回家的路漫长而艰难。那个疲惫不堪的旅行者深吸一口气，然后一下子把空气呼出来。
  It's a long plod home. The weary traveller took a deep breath, then expelled the air in short blasts.

权威用例

只要有愚公移山的志气、滴水穿石的毅力，脚踏实地，埋头苦干，积跬步以至千里，就一定能够把宏伟目标变为美好现实。
As long as we have the resolve to move mountains and the perseverance to plod on, as long as we keep our feet on the ground and forge ahead with our journey by making steady progress, we will turn our grand goals into reality.

出自习主席2023年新年贺词。

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