單字講座 133：gulf (n) / engulf (v)

南非 Umkumbe Bush Lodge 野生動物營區在 IG 分享了一張母犀鳥遭螞蟻「吞噬」的影片，引來熱議。畫面中，一隻母犀鳥站蟻丘上，頭微微上揚，任由蟻群霸佔它的身體。當網友們擔憂它是否因為身體虛弱，才遭蟻群圍攻，營區人員趕忙解釋，母犀鳥其實在正享受「螞蟻浴」！螞蟻分泌的蟻酸可幫助犀鳥清潔羽毛和清除身體上的寄生蟲。話說「吞噬」是 gulf 還是 engulf 呢？下方說分明。



▍gulf (n) 海灣 / 差異分歧
▶ 例 1：這個海灣裏的鯨魚已受到危害，剩不到 100 隻。
The whale in the gulf is endangered, with fewer than 100 individuals remaining.

▶ 例 2：我和 Jack 之間的分歧比以往還深。他背對著我，站得離我遠遠的。
The gulf that lay between Jack and me was wider now than it had ever been, and he stood far away from me, with his back turned.

▍engulf (v) 吞沒（噬）
▶ 例 1：救火車到了，但是為時已晚。整個房子已被大火吞噬。
The fire engines arrived, but they were too late. The entire house was engulfed in fire.