意味一覧 (2件)
支流
解説 Definition
名詞 tributary は、本流や大河へ流れ込む支流を指す。川の大小そのものより、「どの川に合流して水量を増やすか」という水系上の役割が中心で、地理・環境・水文学の文脈でよく使われる。
A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger river. It is a common word in geography and discussions of river systems. A tributary does not flow directly into the sea if it first joins another river.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
地図で太い川へ細い青線が集まる様子を思い浮かべる。tributary はその細い側で、a tributary of the Amazon のように、流れ込む相手を of で示すことが多い。stream はただの小川でもよいが、tributary は合流先との関係が必須。語源的には「納める・寄与する」感覚が水に移り、本流へ水を加える川を表す。
Link it to `contribute`: a `tributary` is a smaller river that gives its water to a larger one. That makes the direction easy to remember. You often see it in patterns like `a tributary of the Nile` or `a tributary of the Amazon`.
例文
The tributary joined the main river after winding through the valley.
その支流は谷をぬって流れ、本流に合流した。
During spring melt, fish swim from the tributary into the larger river.
春の雪解け時には魚が支流から本流へ泳ぎ進む。
Heavy rain made the tributary swell and spill over its banks.
大雨で支流が増水し、堤防を越えてあふれた。
貢納する
(意味 2)解説 Definition
形容詞 tributary は、独立国や部族が宗主国・帝国へ貢納義務を負う状態を表す。単に弱いのではなく、一定の自治を保ちながら朝貢・税・服属儀礼で従属を示す歴史・外交上の関係に使う。
As an adjective, tributary describes a country, region, or tribe that must pay tribute to a stronger power. It is used for historical or diplomatic relationships in which the weaker side is not fully independent, but still keeps some local control. The word suggests formal submission through payment, tax, or ritual acts of loyalty, not just simple weakness.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
watch は「見る」だけでなく、「見張る・注意して見守る」という意味もあります。out が付くと、目を外へ向けて周囲の危険や問題を探す感じになり、「用心する」と結びつけやすいです。特に watch out for + 危険・問題 の形が重要で、watch out for scams「詐欺に用心する」、watch out for mistakes「ミスに気をつける」のように使います。危険を意識して備える動作に焦点があります。
Remember that watch does not only mean "look at." It can also mean "stay alert and watch carefully." When you add out, the idea becomes looking outward for danger or problems, so it connects naturally to "be careful." The pattern watch out for + danger or problem is especially useful, as in watch out for scams or watch out for mistakes.
例文
The kingdom remained tributary to the empire for more than a century.
その王国は1世紀以上にわたり帝国に貢納する立場にあった。
Several tributary tribes kept their own leaders while sending goods to the central court.
いくつかの貢納する部族は、物資を中央の宮廷に送りながら自らの指導者も保っていた。
Historians still debate how much freedom tributary states actually had.
歴史家たちは、貢納する国々に実際どれほどの自由があったのかを今も議論している。
tributary の語源・成り立ち Etymology
tributary はラテン語 tributarius に由来し、もとは tributum「貢ぎ物」から来た「貢納する」の意味でした。tribute や contribute も同じ tribuere「割り当てる・与える」にさかのぼり、大きな川へ水を“納める川”だと考えると「支流」が腑に落ちます。
Tributary comes from Latin tributarius, linked to tributum, meaning "tribute" or "payment." It is related to the verb tribuere, meaning "to assign" or "to give," which also appears in tribute and contribute. The idea later shifted to a river that "gives" its water to a larger river. That is how it came to mean a branch river or stream.
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