名词 “grass、lawn” 和 “turf” 的含义都和 “草” 有关。“Grass” 指 “青草”,“lawn” 指 “草坪”,“turf” 指 “草皮”。这三个词的具体用法有哪些?与它们搭配使用的词组 “artificial grass”、“lawnmower” 的意思是什么?本期节目分析这三个近义词之间的区别。
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(关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。)
Beth
Hello and welcome to Question and Answer of the Week. I'm Beth.
Jiaying
And I'm Jiaying. 本期节目要回答的问题来自听众 Jessica。她的问题是这样的:
Question
Good day. I want to know the differences between these words: 'grass', 'lawn’, and 'turf'. Thank you very much.
Best regards, Jessica.
Jiaying
谢谢听众 Jessica 的问题。下面,我们来看看每个词的含义,并给大家提供一些例句。
Beth
Let's start by looking at 'grass'. 'Grass' is a plant that has long, narrow green leaves.
Jiaying
是的,名词 “grass” 的意思是 “草,青草”,就是生长在地面上的绿叶植物。
Beth
That's right. You very often see grass in gardens, parks, on hills and at the sides of roads. But, really, it grows everywhere – especially in rainy countries like the UK!
Jiaying
注意:“grass” 是 “草” 这类植物的统称,不论是绿油油的 “青草”,还是被晒成棕黄色的 “枯草”,都可以被称为 “grass”。听两个使用了 “grass” 的例句。
Examples
Look at the grass on that hill. It's so green!
(看那座山上的青草。真绿呀!)
Are you going to cut the grass today?
(你今天打算割草吗?)
Beth
'Artificial grass' is also a type of grass that people talk about – 'artificial' means fake.
Jiaying
还有一种草是 “artificial grass(人造草,人造草坪)”。有些人会在自家花园内铺设 “artificial grass”。因为人造草地不需要割草,不费力还能让花园看上去一直保持绿色。听一个例句。
Example
The football pitch is covered in artificial grass.
(这个足球场上铺设了人造草坪。)
Jiaying
下面,我们来对比 “grass” 和 “lawn” 之间的区别。
Beth
A 'lawn' is an area that is covered in grass, and you'll particularly see lawns in a garden or a park.
Jiaying
有一点很重要:名词 “lawn(草坪)” 需要被定期修剪,从而让草保持较短的长度。
Beth
And we cut or mow the lawn with a machine called a 'lawnmower'!
Jiaying
割草用的机器所对应的英文名称是 “lawnmower(割草机)”。记住:“grass(草)” 是自然生长的植物,可以生长在任何地方。
Beth
But when people specifically want 'grass' to make a garden or park look nice, this is a 'lawn'.
Jiaying
但自家花园或公园里为了美观而用 “grass” 铺设的 “草坪” 则叫作 “lawn”。听两个使用了名词 “lawn” 的例句。
Examples
I need to mow the lawn. It's getting too long.
(我得割草了。草长得太长了。)
I sat reading a book on the lawn.
(我坐在草坪上看书。)
Beth
Now let's look at 'turf'. 'Turf' is a layer of grass, including the soil and its roots, that can be laid on the ground to make a lawn.
Jiaying
“Turf” 指 “带土壤和根部的草皮,草皮块”。人们可能会买来 “rolls of turf(一卷一卷的草皮)”,铺在花园里,让草坪 “lawn” 看起来更平整美观。听两个例句。
Examples
We've run out of turf for the garden. Let's buy some more.
(我们的草皮不够,铺不满花园。我们再买一些吧。)
Once they laid new turf, the park looked better.
(铺上新草皮后,公园看起来美观多了。)
Beth
'Turf' can also be used in other expressions. For example, 'on home turf' means 'in your own country or city, or where you feel you belong'.
Jiaying
搭配 “on home turf” 的意思是 “在祖国、在家乡的城市” 或者 “在自己的地盘”。这个搭配延伸到谈论运动的语境中时,意思是 “在主场”。比如,一支足球队在他们的主场比赛,就可以说 “They are playing on home turf.”。听一个例句。
Example
The local football team won the match on home turf.
(当地足球队在主场赢得了比赛。)
Jiaying
好了,让我们总结一下:名词 “grass” 指 “草” 这种绿色植物;名词 “lawn” 指 “定期修剪,以保持其整洁的草坪”;名词 “turf” 是一卷一卷买来、用于铺设在地面上、构成一大片 “lawn(草坪)” 的 “草皮”。
Beth
Jiaying, do you fancy going for a picnic?
Jiaying
Not today! It's raining…
Beth
Oh, yeah, you're right! The grass will be very wet! Well, maybe next time. Remember, if you have a question about the English language you'd like to ask us, please send us an email. Our email address is: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk
Jiaying
你也可以通过微博向我们提问。我们的微博账号是 “BBC英语教学”。Bye, everyone.
Beth
Bye!