核心畫面

A step that cannot be finished. The foot goes down, the weight will not go with it, and the foot comes straight back up — so the stride is cut short and the body dips and rises. Whatever is moving is still moving; it just cannot open up and go. Every use of this word keeps those two halves together: still going, held short.

可以想成:一個踏不滿的步伐。腳落下去了,重量卻沒跟著壓下去,於是腳馬上又收回來。步子被截短,身體跟著一沉一抬。重點是更多收起可以想成:一個踏不滿的步伐。腳落下去了,重量卻沒跟著壓下去,於是腳馬上又收回來。步子被截短,身體跟著一沉一抬。重點是兩件事同時成立:東西還在動,可是伸展不開、走不遠。這個字的每一個用法都同時保留這兩半。有時候截短它的是痛,有時候是一條繩子,有時候是缺錢或缺人手。

Two branches

走得一拐一拐

這一族就是核心畫面本身,從真的用腳走,一路延伸到只是「像那樣往前挪」。

verb · B2

To walk in a slow, uneven, awkward way, taking short careful steps, because your legs or feet hurt or are injured.

跛行;一拐一拐地走

把腿綁住:走得了,走不遠

同樣是被截短的步子,只是這次不是因為痛,而是有人故意讓它只能走這麼遠。

verb · C2

To tie two of an animal's legs loosely together, so that it can move about a little but cannot run away.

絆住牲口的腿