1、sapling = sap(树液、汁液)+ -ling(小):还顶着嫩汁的小树,就是树苗、幼树。 2、-ling 这一头专门表示"小的、幼的":duckling(小鸭子)、seedling(幼苗)、foundling(弃儿)、sibling(兄弟姊妹)都带它。 3、引申用来指"年轻人",像刚冒头的树苗,常说 a young sapling。
early 14c., from sap (n.1) + diminutive suffix -ling. This probably is the source of American English slang sap (n.3) "club, short staff" (1899) and the verb sap (v.2) "to hit (someone) with a sap" (1926).
权威例句
1. She plucked some leaves off the sapling.
她从树苗上摘下一些叶子.
2. A sapling needs pruning, a child discipline.
小树要砍, 小孩要管.
3. She cut down the sapling with one chop.
她一斧子就把树苗砍倒了.
4. The sapling has grown into a big tree after five years.
五年过去了,小树苗长成了一颗大树.
5. Like sapling trees, small children are very pliable.