核心畫面

A rope in your hands, tied to something that will not come. You pull one way, then another, and it stays exactly where it is. Nothing is fighting you; it simply cannot be led. Whether the other end of the rope is a horse, a person, or a problem you have worked on for years, the feeling is the same one.

可以想成手上握著一條繩子,另一頭綁著怎麼拉都不動的東西。你往這邊拉,再往那邊拉,它就停在原地。它沒有跟你對打,只是帶更多收起可以想成手上握著一條繩子,另一頭綁著怎麼拉都不動的東西。你往這邊拉,再往那邊拉,它就停在原地。它沒有跟你對打,只是帶不走。繩子那一頭是一匹馬、一個人,還是一個弄了好幾年的問題,感覺其實都一樣。

From the word’s history

From in- (not) plus tractable, so literally not able to be led or handled.

packet 的字源說這個字是 in-(不)加上 tractable(可以被帶著走、好處理的)。所以字面就是「帶不動」,今天兩個用法都還看得到這個畫面。

Wiktionary etymology_text supplied in packet (kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:375658171)

One branch

帶不動

兩個意思都是同一條拉不動的繩子,差別只在另一頭綁的是活的,還是一件事。

adjective · C1

Someone who is intractable has a strong will and will not be led, persuaded or controlled. It is also used about animals that will not be handled.

倔強難駕馭的