核心畫面

One way to picture it: someone who cannot take something in — what is offered gets pushed back out, whether by the mind or by the body.

一個「收不下」的人。東西遞到他面前,他接不住也留不住,就把它推回去。tolerant 是「容得下、受得了」,加上 i更多收起一個「收不下」的人。東西遞到他面前,他接不住也留不住,就把它推回去。tolerant 是「容得下、受得了」,加上 in- 就整個翻面。推回去的可以是別人的想法,也可以是一杯牛奶——這個字同時活在「態度」和「身體」兩個世界裡,而兩邊用的其實是同一個動作。

From the word’s history

From Latin intolerans (in- + tolerans, from tolerare, to bear or endure), reaching English in the 18th century, probably via French intolérant.

源頭是拉丁文 tolerare「撐住、承受」,intolerans 就是「撐不住的」。這個字在英文裡出現得比想像中晚(十八世紀初),而且 tolerant 本身也是同一時期才有——兩個字幾乎是一起長出來的,正好是歐洲開始認真吵「該不該容許別人信別的宗教」的年代,字的重量從此就定在那裡了。

Latin intolerāns / French intolérant, as given in the entry's origin note

Two branches

心裡容不下:對人的不容忍

「收不下」表現在態度上:別人不一樣,他就不肯讓那份不一樣存在。

unaccepting of differences · adjective · C2

Not willing to accept other people's beliefs, customs, or ways of thinking and behaving when they are different from your own.

不容忍的

身體受不了:不耐的

一樣是「收不下」,只是這次不肯接受的是身體,不是心。

physically intolerant · adjective · C2

Not able to take certain medicines or eat certain foods without feeling unwell or getting a bad reaction.

不耐的

原始詞典資料4 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。

intolerantadj/ɪnˈtɑləɹənt/

  • 1

    Unable or indisposed to tolerate, endure or bear.

  • 2

    medicinesciencesUnable to digest food or be given substances of a certain composition without adverse effects.

    • Near-synonym: allergic
    • I am intolerant of lactose, so I can't drink milk
  • 3

    Not tolerant; close-minded about new or different ideas; indisposed to tolerate contrary opinions or beliefs; impatient of dissent or opposition; denying or refusing the right of private opinion or choice in others; inclined to persecute or suppress dissent.

    • Whilſt Congregationaliſts in England were complaining of the intolerant ſpirit of Epiſcopalians there
    • They ſhewed their intolerant ſpirit by demanding a ſtrict execution of the penal laws againſt Catholics

intolerantnoun/ɪnˈtɑləɹənt/

  • 1

    One who is intolerant; a bigot.

    • […] a portion of the prejudice which darkened the spirits of these intolerants, might perhaps have cast its shadow over him.

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