wade
Definitions
To walk through water or another substance that makes movement hard
蹚水，涉水（而行）；跋涉
To make slow, difficult progress through something tedious or large
（吃力地）费劲处理，艰难地推进
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedwade isn't from Latin at all — it's the native English member of this family, descended from the same ancient 'go' root as vādere (Latin v- often answers Germanic w-, as in vine/wine). It kept the most literal sense: to walk slowly through something that drags at you, usually water. From there it spreads figuratively: wade through paperwork, wade into a debate.
Root vad still carries 16 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.wade through water蹚水
- 2.wade through paperwork费劲处理文书
- 3.wade into a debate卷入争论
- 4.wade across a river蹚水过河
Example Sentences
- 1.
The children rolled up their trousers and waded into the river.
- 2.
I spent all evening wading through a pile of unread emails.
- 3.
He waded into the argument without knowing the full story.
Easily Confused
wade vs wander — both involve walking but are unrelated. wade is pushing through resistance (water, work). wander (under the vag root) is drifting with no goal. Don't confuse wade's directional effort with vag-family aimless wandering.