核心畫面

One way to hold this word: two oxen under a single yoke. They are two, they stay two, and yet they can only move together. Every use of conjugate keeps that picture. Verb forms are yoked into one set. A number and its conjugate are yoked into one pair. Two molecules are yoked into one new thing. Two cells are yoked together just long enough to pass something across.

可以想成兩頭牛套在同一根軛上。牠們是兩個,還是兩個,但只能一起走。conjugate 的每個用法都留著這個畫面。動詞更多收起可以想成兩頭牛套在同一根軛上。牠們是兩個,還是兩個,但只能一起走。conjugate 的每個用法都留著這個畫面。動詞的各種形式被綁成一組。一個數和它的共軛綁成一對。兩個分子被接成一個新東西。兩個細胞暫時搭在一起,把遺傳物質送過去。中文的「共軛」用的正是同一個軛字,這條線對得非常準。

From the word’s history

From Latin coniugo, con- (with) + iugo (to join, to yoke), literally to yoke together.

來自拉丁文 coniugō:con-(一起)加上 iugō(連結、套軛),字面就是「套在同一根軛上」。所以上面的畫面不只是記憶用的比喻,這個字本來就是這樣造出來的。

Wiktionary entry for conjugate, etymology supplied in this packet (kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:470423272)

Two branches

文法:把動詞的形式綁成一組

一個動詞的所有形式被看成一組,像被同一根軛綁在一起。這是學習者最常遇到的一支,也是課堂上唯一會說出口的用法。

verb · B2

To say or write out the different forms of a verb in order, one for each person and tense, for example I am, you are, he is.

變化(動詞)

接在一起:兩個變成一個

同樣是套在一起,但這一支多走了一步:接上之後產生新的東西,或發生了交換。軛不只是綁著,還讓兩邊真的互通。

verb · C2

To join two things together, or to put them side by side so that they are treated as one. This use is rare, and it sounds formal or old.

結合、並在一起