核心畫面

One way to hold it: something from outside pokes a living thing, and the thing responds by itself — the poke doesn't do the work, it wakes up work that was already possible.

從外面給一個東西「戳一下」,被戳的那一方自己動起來。重點在於戳的人並沒有替它做事——按摩師揉頭皮,不是他把頭髮拉長的更多收起從外面給一個東西「戳一下」,被戳的那一方自己動起來。重點在於戳的人並沒有替它做事——按摩師揉頭皮,不是他把頭髮拉長的,是他讓頭皮的血液循環活躍起來,頭髮自己長。stimulate 這個字的力氣一直在這裡:外力只是啟動,真正的動作來自被啟動的那一方。所以它後面接的東西,通常都是本來就有能力動、只是還沒動或動得不夠的:一株植物、一顆心臟、一個學生的好奇心、一個景氣低迷的經濟。

Three branches

戳一下活的東西,讓它自己動起來

這一組是核心畫面最實體的樣子:真的有一個東西被外力作用,然後自己開始長、開始運作。

stimulate growth · verb · B2

to make a plant, or a part of the body, become active or stronger, for example by making it grow, work harder, or start working again.

刺激(生長)

讓人心裡的興趣被點起來

把「戳一下就自己動」搬進人的腦袋裡:被戳的不是身體組織,是好奇心。

spark interest · verb · B2

to make someone excited about something and interested in it, so that they want to learn more or try harder.

激發(興趣)

帶動一個活動或一整個經濟

再往外推一層:被戳的變成經濟、產業、某個過程——把它們當成一個會自己長的有機體來對待。

boost, encourage · verb · B2

to help an activity, a business, or a process start, or to make it grow and develop more than before.

促進;帶動

原始詞典資料2 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。

stimulateverb/ˈstɪm.jʊ.leɪt/

  • 1

    To encourage into action.

    • stimulate the economy
    • To most others Lord Allerton's obvious preference for Mary would have been an insuperable obstacle; it only served to stimulate her ladyship.
  • 2

    To arouse an organism to functional activity.

    • stimulate my mind
    • He was sexually stimulated by the dancer's moves.

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