brackish
汽水っぽい
解説 Definition
汽水のとは、塩水と淡水が混ざった水のことです。河口などで海水と川の水が混ざっている環境に見られます。
Brackish describes water that is slightly salty, between fresh water and sea water. It is common when talking about wetlands, river mouths, and places where ocean water mixes with inland water. The word can also suggest an unpleasant taste.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
このエントリでは brackish を「汽水っぽい」、つまり川の淡水と海水が混ざる場所の水質や環境を表す語として覚えます。単に味が塩気を帯びる基本義とは別に、河口、湿地、ラグーン、マングローブなどの生態環境を説明する文脈で出やすい用法です。`brackish water` は、真水でも海水でもない境目の水と結び付けると定着します。
Learn this as the fixed phrase `brackish water`. Put it between `fresh water` and `salt water`: it is neither fully one nor fully the other. The ending `-ish` can mean “somewhat like,” so think “salt-ish water.”
例文
Brackish water in the estuary is home to unique fish species.
河口の汽水には独特な魚が生息しています。
The taste of brackish water is between fresh and salty.
汽水の味は淡さと塩辛さの中間です。
Many organisms have adapted to survive in brackish environments.
多くの生物は汽水環境に適応しました。
brackish の語源・成り立ち Etymology
brackish はオランダ語 brak「塩気のある」に、古英語由来の形容詞語尾 -ish が付いた語です。つまり核は「塩っぽい」で、真水でも海水でもない汽水をぴたりと言い当てます。brack や brackwater にも同じ語幹が見えます。
Brackish comes from Dutch brak, meaning "salty" or "slightly salt," with the English adjective ending -ish. The central idea is simply "somewhat salty." From that, the word came to describe water that is between fresh water and sea water. Related forms include brackwater and older regional brack.
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう