喜樂美語

核心畫面

You can picture suggest as gently putting an idea in front of someone, without forcing it: you set a thought on the table — 'how about this?' — and leave them free to take it or not. From that one move grow two directions: suggest as openly offering an idea, and suggest as something quietly pointing to a conclusion.

可以想成「把一個想法輕輕擺到對方面前，不硬塞」：你把一個念頭放上檯面——「這樣如何？」——要不要接受，留給對方。從這…更多收起可以想成「把一個想法輕輕擺到對方面前，不硬塞」：你把一個念頭放上檯面——「這樣如何？」——要不要接受，留給對方。從這一個動作長出兩個方向：一邊是「主動把想法提出來」，一邊是「某樣東西悄悄把人引向某個結論」。

From the word’s history

From Latin suggerere, 'to bring up, supply, put under' (sub- 'up from under' + gerere 'to carry, bring'): the core is bringing an idea up and putting it forward.

源自拉丁文 suggerere，意為「由下往上托、把東西送上來」（sub- 由下、gerere 搬、帶）：核心正是「把一個想法托上來、擺到對方眼前」，無論是大方提出，還是隱隱透出，都是這個「往上送」的動作。

Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), 'suggest'

Three branches

主動把想法提出來

這一族最貼近核心動作：你有意識地把一個想法、人選或念頭擺到對方面前，讓對方參考、選擇。

suggest (propose an idea) · verb · B1

To tell someone your idea about what they could do, where they could go, or what they could choose.

建議 / 提議

含蓄地透露

核心比較像「把想法擺出來」；這一族把這個動作放輕、放暗——不是攤開來講，而是讓意思隱隱透出來，由對方自己接收。

suggest (hint indirectly) · verb · B1

To say something in an indirect way, hinting at it rather than saying it openly.

暗示

事物本身指向某結論

把「擺出一個想法」的主詞從人換成「事實、跡象或某樣東西」：不是有人開口提議，而是這些東西本身把想法托到你面前，引你想到某個結論或畫面。

suggest (facts pointing to something) · verb · B1

If facts or signs suggest something, they make you think it is probably true.

顯示 / 表明

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。

suggestverb/səˈd͡ʒɛst/

  • 1

    To imply but stop short of explicitly stating (something).

    • Are you suggesting that I killed my wife?
  • 2

    To cause one to suppose (something); to bring to one's mind the idea (of something).

    • The name "hamburger" suggests that hamburgers originated from Hamburg.
    • , Book II, Chapter III Some ideas […] are suggested to the mind by all the ways of sensation and reflection.
  • 3

    To explicitly mention (something) as a possibility for consideration, often to recommend it.

    • This meeting venue was suggested to us by our boss.
    • He suggests that we celebrate with dinner at Bellissimo. He suggests our celebrating with dinner at Bellissimo.
  • 4

    obsoleteTo seduce; to prompt to evil; to tempt.

    • Knowing that tender youth is soon suggested.

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