Meanings of 舔
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Podcast: 舔
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AI Study Notes for 舔
舔 (tiǎn, to lick) vs 吮 (shǔn, to suck) — use 舔 when referring to licking something with the tongue, while 吮 implies sucking, often with a focus on drawing liquid in.
Be careful not to confuse 舔 with other similar verbs like 吃 (chī, to eat) or 喝 (hē, to drink), as they represent different actions. This word is generally informal, so it's best used in casual conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 舔舌 (tiǎn shé, to lick one's tongue) and 舔冰淇淋 (tiǎn bīngqílín, to lick ice cream).
As an HSK Level 6 word, 舔 connects well with other expressive verbs describing actions (like 吃 and 喝). Focus on its usage in idiomatic expressions or in descriptive writing to enhance your vocabulary. This verb may appear in contexts relating to food or animals, which are common themes in advanced language learning.
Learners often mistakenly use 舔 when they mean to say 'eat' (吃, chī) or 'drink' (喝, hē). For example, saying '我舔饭' (wǒ tiǎn fàn) instead of '我吃饭' (wǒ chī fàn) is incorrect; the correct way to say 'I eat rice' is '我吃饭'.
Pronunciation of 舔
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Etymology of 舔
tongue
Origin
舔 = 舌 + 忝. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 舔
Parts
Which of these is part of 舔?
How to say to lick in Chinese
“to lick” in Chinese is舔
The verb 舔 (tiǎn) means 'to lick' or 'to lap up' and is commonly used to describe the action of using the tongue to touch or taste something. It can refer to the way animals drink or groom themselves, as well as a human's action of tasting food or ice cream. In certain contexts, it can also imply a more affectionate gesture, such as licking someone's face out of affection.
When to use 舔
Be careful not to confuse 舔 with other similar verbs like 吃 (chī, to eat) or 喝 (hē, to drink), as they represent different actions. This word is generally informal, so it's best used in casual conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 舔舌 (tiǎn shé, to lick one's tongue) and 舔冰淇淋 (tiǎn bīngqílín, to lick ice cream).
舔 or something close to it
舔 (tiǎn, to lick) vs 吮 (shǔn, to suck) — use 舔 when referring to licking something with the tongue, while 吮 implies sucking, often with a focus on drawing liquid in.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 舔 when they mean to say 'eat' (吃, chī) or 'drink' (喝, hē). For example, saying '我舔饭' (wǒ tiǎn fàn) instead of '我吃饭' (wǒ chī fàn) is incorrect; the correct way to say 'I eat rice' is '我吃饭'.
Write 舔
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Grammar Patterns of 舔
舔 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她把信折好，用力____了舔信封的折口。
She folded up her letter, licking the envelope flap with relish.
Example Sentences for 舔 (10)
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Word Family of 舔
Words with 舔
What does 舔屁股 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 舔
No, while it is often used to describe how animals lick, it can also refer to humans tasting food or drinks.
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