喜樂美語

這個拼法底下其實是2個不同的字，意思沒有關係， 只是長得一樣。下面分開列出來。跳到 細縫 · 叮噹聲

1

chink

n, v

核心畫面

Picture two things that do not quite close: two curtains, a door and its frame, two logs in a wall. What is left between them is one thin line. It is too narrow for a hand, but light, air and sound get through. Because the line is so narrow, whatever passes through it comes in a thin strip. Close the two things properly, or fill the line in, and the chink is gone.

「chink」可以想成兩樣東西沒有完全合上，中間留下的那一條細細的開口。像兩片窗簾、門跟門框、牆上疊起來的兩根木頭之…更多收起「chink」可以想成兩樣東西沒有完全合上，中間留下的那一條細細的開口。像兩片窗簾、門跟門框、牆上疊起來的兩根木頭之間。它窄到手伸不進去，但是光、空氣和聲音過得去。也因為它這麼窄，從那裡透進來的東西只會是細細的一條。把兩邊合攏，或者把那條線填起來，chink 就不見了。

From the word’s history

Wiktionary traces this chink to Middle English chine, from Old English ċine meaning a crack, with a small -k ending added; it says the origin is not certain. If that line holds, the word has meant a little crack from the start, and everything on this page is still that picture.

依 Wiktionary，這個 chink 可能是中古英文 chine 加上帶「小」意味的 -k 而來，再往前是古英文 ċine（裂縫）；來源本身也說這條線不完全確定。如果成立，這個字一開始就是「一道小裂口」，而這一頁上的每個用法都還站在那個畫面上。

Wiktionary via kaikki snapshot 3f6f69a190036ae4 (entry: chink, noun, etymology 1)

From the picture

一道透光的細縫，以及把它填起來

這一家最貼近核心畫面：縫就是縫，看得見、摸得到。有縫就有人想把它塞起來，所以名詞旁邊長出了一個動詞。

noun · B2

A narrow opening in something such as a wall, a door or a pair of curtains, or in the join between two things, wide enough to let light, air or sound through but no more.

細縫

強者身上唯一的那道縫

把細縫放到盔甲上，畫面就從「物理的開口」變成「唯一下得了手的地方」。這是概念上的延伸，不是另一個字源。

noun · B2

A small weak point in a person, a team or an argument that otherwise looks completely strong, and that someone else can use to attack them.

唯一的弱點；破綻

Also in this word

verb · C1

To fill the narrow gaps in a wall, especially the spaces between the logs of a log house, with clay, mud or other material so that wind and rain cannot get in.

填縫

A second word, same spelling

2

chink

n, v

核心畫面

A different chink, and a different picture: two small hard things meeting. Coins in a pocket, a spoon against a glass, two cups touched together. The noise is high, short and light — it is over almost before you hear it, and nothing breaks. The word sounds like the thing it names.

這是另一個 chink，畫面也完全不同：兩個又小又硬的東西輕輕碰在一起。口袋裡的硬幣、湯匙敲到玻璃杯、兩個杯子相碰。…更多收起這是另一個 chink，畫面也完全不同：兩個又小又硬的東西輕輕碰在一起。口袋裡的硬幣、湯匙敲到玻璃杯、兩個杯子相碰。那一聲又高又短又輕，幾乎還沒聽清楚就結束了，東西也不會破。這個字唸起來就很像它在講的那個聲音。

From the word’s history

Wiktionary gives this chink a separate origin from the crack word and says simply that it is onomatopoeic: the word imitates the noise. So the sound came first, and the noun and verb both grew straight out of it.

Wiktionary 把這個 chink 列為另一條獨立的字源，而且只說一句：擬聲。也就是這個字是在模仿那個聲音。所以先有聲音，名詞和動詞都是從聲音直接長出來的。

Wiktionary via kaikki snapshot 3f6f69a190036ae4 (entry: chink, noun/verb, etymology 2: Onomatopoeic)

From the picture

那個清脆的一聲

同一個聲音，一次當名詞、一次當動詞。英文很多擬聲字都是這樣成雙出現的。

noun · C1

A short high ringing sound made when small metal or glass objects touch each other, such as coins, keys, cups or glasses.

叮噹聲

Also in this word

noun · C2

Money you have on you and can spend at once, especially coins. This use is old and is now rare.

現錢；銅板錢

原始詞典資料20 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

Chinknoun/t͡ʃɪŋk/

  • 1

    offensivederogatoryslurA person of perceived Chinese ethnicity or descent.

    • Then her eyes, always alert for the affairs of her kitchen, fell on some action of the Chinese cook which aroused her violent disapproval. She turned on him with a torrent of abuse. The Chink was not backward to defend himself, and a very lively quarrel ensued.
    • [Ignatz Mouse:] A new Chink in town, and acting mighty queer too – I suspect foul play.
  • 2

    offensivederogatoryslurA person of perceived East Asian descent.

  • 3

    offensiveslurA meal of Chinese food.

    • Let's order some Chink. Where's that menu? I think we've got the stuff we usually order circled. I'm starved!

Chinkadj/t͡ʃɪŋk/

  • 1

    offensivederogatoryslurChinese, or perceived to be Chinese.

  • 2

    offensivederogatoryslurEast Asian.

Chinkname/t͡ʃɪŋk/

  • 1

    offensivederogatoryslurThe Chinese language.

    • > >I see you are trying to post in chink. Ha!! Ha!! > > No, that was an English translation of your post. Your^([sic]) a fishhead Ha!! Ha!!

chinknoun詞源 1/t͡ʃɪŋk/

  • 1

    A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.

    • What a pity they didn’t stop up the chinks and the crannies though, and thrust in a little lint here and there.
    • Yet I did not give way, but settled to wait for the dawn, which must, I knew, be now at hand; for then I thought enough light would come through the chinks of the tomb above to show me how to set to work.
  • 2

    A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.

    • I noticed a chink of light under the door.
    • A chink of light offering a possible settlement to one part of the rail dispute comes as the RMT is to ballot its members at Network Rail on whether to accept an improved offer.
  • 3

    A chip or dent in something metallic.

    • The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.
  • 4

    A vulnerability or flaw in a protection system or in any otherwise formidable system.

    • The chink in the theory is that the invaders have superior muskets.
    • The first chink in Arsenal's relaxed afternoon occurred when key midfielder Samir Nasri pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced.

chinkverb詞源 1/t͡ʃɪŋk/

  • 1

    To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk.

    • to chink a wall
  • 2

    To crack; to open.

  • 3

    To cause to open in cracks or fissures.

chinknoun詞源 2/t͡ʃɪŋk/

  • 1

    A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other; a clink.

    • She swallow, set the cup down like she want to break it, and the ice-blocks jump, make a chink sound.
  • 2

    archaicdatedReady money, especially in the form of coins.

    • to leave his chink to better hands
    • I thought that if all the hills about there were pure chink, and all belonged to me, I would give them if I could just talk to her when I wanted to […]

chinkverb詞源 2/t͡ʃɪŋk/

  • 1

    To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching.

    • The coins were chinking in his pocket.
  • 2

    To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces of metal, etc., by bringing them into collision with each other.

    • He chinks his purse

這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形：

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。