●spring 突然出現、湧現
今天集中說英文字spring,它解作「突然出現」。以下兩例句中的sprang用的是過去式,現在進行式是springing。(過去分詞則是sprung)
In Mainland China, new skyscrapers have kept springing up because of the unparalleled economic boom.
在中國大陸,因空前的經濟繁榮,新摩天大樓如雨後春筍般落成。
Tears sprang to her eyes when she had a reunion with her 75-year-old son, after a separation of more than half a century.
當她與分隔超過半世紀的七十五歲兒子重逢時,眼淚一下子湧上來。
●spring 彈起、跳出
spring也有「躍起、彈出」的意思,例如以下三句:
Upon hearing the shocking news, he sprang up from his seat.
當聽到這令人震驚的消息時,他整個人從座位中彈起來。
The playful child sprang up from behind the door, scaring their mother half to death.
那頑皮的小孩突然從門後跳出來,把他的母親嚇個半死。
The figure in the jack-in-the-box sprang up when the boy opened the lid.
那男孩揭開玩偶匣蓋時,裡面的玩偶即彈跳起來。
●spring sth(on sb)出其不意地說、做等
但在以下例句中,spring的意思稍異:
The factory owner sprang the news of closedown on the workers, leaving hundreds of them helpless.
工廠老闆突然向員工宣布工廠倒閉的消息,讓數百名員工徬徨無助。
以上的spring sth(on sb),有「出其不意宣布、突然發生」意。
●spring to sb's defense 迅速為某人辯護
Her subordinates sprang to her defense when her proposal of restructuring the administrative department was under heavy fire.
當她建議改組行政部門而受猛烈抨擊時,她的下屬挺身而出,為她辯護。
spring to sb's defence中用上富動感的spring,也就是come quickly/leap/jump to sb's defence,可譯為「奮起為某人辯護」。