Meanings of 舔
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About 舔
Podcast: 舔
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
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 舔
- 1The meaning half舌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half忝 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaytongue
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
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Decomposition of 舔
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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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Practice writing 舔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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.
Complete the Sentence
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)
Word Family of 舔
Compound Meaning
What does 舔 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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