mamihlapinatapai

英语

词源

来自雅加语词mamihlapinatapai，吉尼斯世界纪录将其列为“最简洁的词”，解作“互相看着对方，希望对方先开始做一件两边都想做、但不愿意做的事情”。

本词规则派生自动词ihlvpi /iɬəpi/（“感到尴尬；不知所措”）：ma[m]-（自反/相互）+ ihlvpi + :n[a]-（静态）+ -at[a]-（使役）+ -a:pai（双数）。字面意思大概为“让两人都感到尴尬”。

名词

mamihlapinatapai (复数 mamihlapinatapais)

1. 所有参与人都想进行某件事，但没有人去做。
   • 2008, Jennifer Ackerman, Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream: A Day in the Life of Your Body[1]:

     By contrast, if that same face looks away from us, the activity in this area diminishes, lire heightened dopamine activity is not rooted in the attractiveness of the gazer per se, but in the potential for interaction signaled by eye contact, mamihlapinatapei.

   • 2008, Len Fisher, Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life, page 77:

     The Volunteer's Dilemma, or mamihlapinatapai, is a game of Chicken with many participants.

   • 2012, Mark Forsyth, The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt through the Lost Words of the English language[2]:

     As two people stand at a doorway each gesturing 'After you', that is mamihlapinatapai.

   • 2013, V. S. Atbay, Epiphany - A Collection of Poems[3]:

     We knew of this, the secret language grew between my yearning, between her submission, temporary and fleeting, only to be caught again. And there was that word; Mamihlapinatapai

   • 2013, Koren Zailckas, Mother, Mother: A Novel[4]:

     Mamihlapinatapai. A naming word. It meant the wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.