/ˈsnɪf.əl/
动词:轻轻地、反复地吸鼻子,通常因为感冒或哭泣。也可用作名词,指吸鼻子的声音或轻微的感冒症状(常用复数 the sniffles)。
She kept sniffling during the movie because she had a cold.
她感冒了,看电影时一直在吸鼻子。
The little boy tried to hold back his tears, but couldn't help sniffling quietly as he told his mother what had happened at school.
小男孩试图忍住眼泪,但在跟妈妈讲述学校发生的事情时,还是忍不住轻轻地抽泣。
sniffle 源于17世纪,是 sniff(嗅、吸气)的频率动词形式,后缀 -le 表示反复、持续的动作(类似 crackle、sparkle 等词的构词方式)。sniff 本身是一个拟声词,模仿用鼻子短促吸气的声音,可追溯至中古英语时期。