核心畫面

You can think of one picture holding this word together: a small train that is hauled up a high slope, let go, and then thrown down, up and around a narrow track. Nobody is steering it, the drops come without warning, and the whole thing is over quickly. Everything this word does grows out of that ride.

這個字可以想成一個畫面:一列小車被拉上高坡,然後放手,一路被甩下去、甩上來、甩過急彎。沒有人在開它,落差說來就來,而更多收起這個字可以想成一個畫面:一列小車被拉上高坡,然後放手,一路被甩下去、甩上來、甩過急彎。沒有人在開它,落差說來就來,而且很快就結束。無論講的是遊樂園的設施,還是一段日子,都可以從這個「被載著忽上忽下」的畫面看出來。

Two branches

遊樂園裡的那座設施

這是畫面本身:真的存在的軌道和車廂。

noun · B1

A ride at a fair or an amusement park: a train of small open carriages that runs along a narrow track with very steep drops and sharp curves, so that riders feel sudden speed and falling.

雲霄飛車

像坐雲霄飛車的一段日子

把同一個畫面套到人生的一段時間上:起伏大、來得快、自己使不上力。

noun · B2

A period of time or an experience that keeps changing fast between good and bad, or between strong feelings, so that nothing stays steady for long.

大起大落