不過，小扁豆的英文名稱是lentils。或許讀者會覺得，為什麼要提到小扁豆呢？
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| 長在田裡的小扁豆。圖片來源：wiki |
原來是因為小扁豆的種子的形狀（如下圖）。
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| 小扁豆的種子。圖片來源：wiki |
2016年4月5日 星期二
小扁豆（lentils）與水晶體（lens）
在第十四課（一）裡面我們學到水晶體（lens）。用來形容水晶體的字首是lent(i)-。
不過，小扁豆的英文名稱是lentils。或許讀者會覺得，為什麼要提到小扁豆呢？
這就要看小扁豆的學名了。小扁豆的學名是：Lens culinaris。注意到屬名了嗎？跟水晶體一模一樣呢！為什麼小扁豆會使用水晶體作為學名呢？
原來是因為小扁豆的種子的形狀（如下圖）。
看到了嗎？小扁豆的種子的形狀，跟水晶體以及透鏡都很像！所以就借了lens這個詞來給小扁豆啦！學到現在同學不知道有沒有發現，語言，不論是英文或中文，借詞借字是很常見的事情。只是因為英文不是我們的母語，我們認得的字沒有那麼多，所以就不那麼清楚了。
不過，小扁豆的英文名稱是lentils。或許讀者會覺得，為什麼要提到小扁豆呢？
原來是因為小扁豆的種子的形狀（如下圖）。
lentil and lens : are they related?
In Lesson 14-1 we learned a tissue in our eye called lens. The prefix for describing lens is lent(i)-.
However, there is also a plant, a legume which is named lentils. If we check the scientific name for lentil, you will find is very interesting. The scientific name for lentil is Lens culinaris.
How come a genus of a plant use the tissue of our eyes as its name?
Well, it's very simple. The seeds of lentils look very similar to the lens in our eye and also the lens we use for observing objects.
Therefore, it is named lentils. It is very common to borrow words here and there to describe new things.
However, there is also a plant, a legume which is named lentils. If we check the scientific name for lentil, you will find is very interesting. The scientific name for lentil is Lens culinaris.
How come a genus of a plant use the tissue of our eyes as its name?
Well, it's very simple. The seeds of lentils look very similar to the lens in our eye and also the lens we use for observing objects.
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| lentils. Source: wikipedia |
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