核心畫面

You can picture 'pursue' as following hard after something to catch it — running behind a person or thing, staying on its trail, meaning to it. Every other use keeps that image of steadily going after a target, even when the target is a goal or an idea rather than a runner.

可以把 pursue 想成「緊追在後、非追到不可」的畫面:跟在某人或某物後頭跑,咬住牠的路線,一心要追上。其他用法都更多收起可以把 pursue 想成「緊追在後、非追到不可」的畫面:跟在某人或某物後頭跑,咬住牠的路線,一心要追上。其他用法都留著這股「盯著目標一路追下去」的感覺,只是追的對象換成了目標或想法,而不是一個逃跑的人。

From the word’s history

From Old French poursuir, from Vulgar Latin *prosequare, from Latin prosequi 'to follow after, chase', from pro- 'forward' + sequi 'to follow'. The oldest sense is literally following after with intent to overtake — the chase — which is still the core the abstract senses grow from.

源自古法文 poursuir,再上溯到拉丁文 prosequi(跟在後面追),由 pro-(向前)加 sequi(跟隨)組成。最古老的意思就是「帶著要追上的心一路跟在後面」——也就是「追」;今天那些抽象用法,全都是從這個追趕的核心長出來的。

etymonline.com/word/pursue (Online Etymology Dictionary)

Three branches

追趕、追捕(實際地追)

這一支就是核心畫面本身:在後面追某人或某物,目的是要追上、抓住牠。

chase · verb · C1

To go after a person, animal, or thing that is moving away from you, so that you can catch them, attack them, or reach them.

追捕 / 追趕

長期追求目標與感情

把「追」從一場短跑拉長成一條路:不再是追眼前逃跑的人,而是盯著一個目標,長時間一路追下去。追的可以是事業、夢想,也可以是一段感情。

keep working toward · verb · C1

To keep doing an activity or keep trying to reach a goal over a long time.

追求 / 從事

追究、追問一個題目

把「追」用在一個話題或問題上:不放它過去,一直問下去、查下去,好像追著這件事非要弄清楚不可。

investigate further · verb · C1

To keep asking about or looking into a subject to find out more.

追究 / 追問

原始詞典資料7 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。

pursueverb/pəˈsjuː/

  • 1

    To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.

    • pursue one's dreams
    • The wicked flee when no man purſueth: but the righteous are bolde as a lyon.
  • 2

    To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).

    • Her rival pursued a quite different course.
  • 3

    To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).

    • He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.
  • 4

    To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

    • The Kedarites are depicted as herders of sheep and goats who pursued a seminomadic existence and lived scattered over a wide area of the desert region east of the land of Israel.
  • 5

    To urge (someone or something) to act in a particular way.

    • The mayor promised to pursue the city to be an Olympic sports venue.
  • 6

    To act as a legal prosecutor.

  • 7

    archaicTo continue; to carry on.

    • 'Allow me, great king,' pursued the Demon, in a dry tone of voice, 'to wish you joy […]

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