叼 (diāo) - To hold in the mouth & to grip with the teeth
叼 · diāo
To hold in the mouth;
to grip with the teeth;
to carry in the mouth (as an animal does).
To hold in the mouthto grip with the teethto carry in the mouth (as an animal
Usage highlights
Hold in mouthBite and holdCarry in mouthDangle from mouthGrip with teethSnatch with mouth
Usage & contexts
Examples
- The dog held the bone in its mouth (叼着骨头).
- He had a cigarette dangling from his lips (嘴里叼着烟).
- The mother cat carried her kitten by the scruff (母猫叼着小猫).
Collocations
- Hold in mouth(叼着)
- Bite and hold(叼住)
- Carry in mouth(叼走)
- Dangle from mouth(叼在嘴里)
- Grip with teeth(叼咬)
- Snatch with mouth(叼起)
Idioms
- Like a dog holding a bone — stubbornly refusing to let go(死叼不放)
Cultural background
FAQ- Often used to describe animal behavior, particularly how carnivores carry prey or how domestic pets carry objects.
- In human context, commonly describes the casual, sometimes improper, habit of holding cigarettes or small objects between the lips.