1
a waif of a [person]
这种 'a waif of a + 名词' 结构用于强调某人非常瘦弱或显得无依无靠，'of a' 不是所有格，而是加强语气。
The child was a waif of a boy, all skin and bones.
那个男孩是个骨瘦如柴的小流浪儿。
流浪儿；无家可归的人；被遗弃者
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
流浪儿；无家可归的人；被遗弃者
A person, especially a child, who is homeless and without means of support; an outcast.
The child was a waif of a boy, all skin and bones.
那个男孩是个骨瘦如柴的小流浪儿。
发现的东西,尤指无主之物；偶然出现之物。
Something found, especially if without an owner; something which comes along, as it were, by chance.
被风或水携带的东西(如云或烟)。
Something (such as clouds or smoke) carried by wind or water.
无家可归的孩子,尤其是被遗弃或孤儿
a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
无家可归且无生活来源的人(尤指儿童)；被社会排斥的人；流浪者。
A person (especially a child) who is homeless and without means of support; also, a person excluded from society; an outcast.
A waif was sitting on the doorstep, shivering in the cold.
一个流浪儿坐在门阶上，在寒风中瑟瑟发抖。
The charity provides food and shelter for the waifs of the city.
这家慈善机构为城里的流浪儿童提供食物和住所。
She looked like a waif with her thin arms and torn dress.
她胳膊纤细，裙子破旧，看起来像个流浪儿。
这种 'a waif of a + 名词' 结构用于强调某人非常瘦弱或显得无依无靠，'of a' 不是所有格，而是加强语气。
The child was a waif of a boy, all skin and bones.
那个男孩是个骨瘦如柴的小流浪儿。
这是固定搭配，一般用复数，指无家可归的人或动物。
The shelter cares for the waifs and strays of the city.
这家收容所照料城里的流浪者与无家可归的动物。
Not this
There are many waif in the city.
Use this
There are many waifs in the city.
waif 是可数名词，复数形式为 waifs；在 many 后必须用复数，不能省略 -s。
Not this
A waif is a child whose parents have died.
Use this
An orphan is a child whose parents have died.
waif 意为“无家可归或被遗弃的孩子”，并不等于“父母双亡的孩子”；表示“孤儿”应用 orphan。
Not this
The abandoned girl became waif after living on the streets.
Use this
The abandoned girl became a waif after living on the streets.
waif 是可数名词，单数形式前需要加限定词 a；became 后不能直接用不带冠词的单数可数名词。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
无家可归的人（或动物）
The shelter takes in waifs and strays from the streets.
收容所收留街头无家可归的人。
街头流浪儿
The detective found the street waif sleeping under a bridge.
侦探发现那个街头流浪儿睡在桥下。
骨瘦如柴的孩子
She was a waif of a child, with huge eyes and thin arms.
她是个骨瘦如柴的孩子，大大的眼睛，细弱的胳膊。
小流浪儿
A little waif asked me for some change.
一个小流浪儿向我要零钱。
可怜的流浪儿
The poor waif was all alone in the big city.
那个可怜的流浪儿独自在大城市里。
流浪儿童；无家可归的孩子和动物
The shelter provides food and warmth for the waifs and strays of the city.
收容所为城里的流浪儿童和无家可归的动物提供食物和温暖。
骨瘦如柴的女孩/男孩；弱不禁风的孩子
She was a waif of a girl, with thin arms and a pale face.
她是个骨瘦如柴的女孩，手臂纤细，脸色苍白。
发长 /eɪ/ 音 (如 rain, wait)
Use waif naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
把 wait 的 t 换成 f：流浪儿在等待（wait）中被风吹（f）得又瘦又弱。
语域：mixed 常见场景：文学作品、新闻特写、日常描述 waif 的语体随含义变化：指“流浪儿童”时多用于文学作品或正式书面语；指“瘦弱的人”时偶见于日常描述，但略带文学色彩。口语中更常说 homeless child 或 very thin person。具体使用需看上下文。
waif 指被遗弃或无家可归的孩子，常带怜悯色彩。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.