舌 (shé) - tongue & language

舌Tone 2

shé ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 舌

上姝

舌 · shé

tongue;

language;

speech;

a tongue-shaped object.

tonguelanguagespeech

Usage highlights

tonguetongue twistermother tonguesharp tonguetongue diagnosisslip of the tongue

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 笔— pen/writing (as opposed to spoken language)
  • 沉默— silence

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The human tongue (舌头) is used for tasting and speaking.
  • He speaks fluent English (英语说得很流利).
  • The tongue of a bell (钟舌) produces the sound.
  • She burned her tongue on the hot soup (烫到了舌头).

Collocations

  • tongue(舌头)
  • tongue twister(绕口令)
  • mother tongue(母语)
  • sharp tongue(利舌)
  • tongue-tied(张口结舌)
  • tongue diagnosis(舌诊)

Idioms

  • To have a ready tongue(三寸不烂之舌)
  • To wag one's tongue too freely(摇唇鼓舌)
  • To hold one's tongue(钳口结舌)
  • A glib tongue(油嘴滑舌)
  • To keep a civil tongue in one's head(口不出恶言)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, the tongue is a key diagnostic tool reflecting internal organ health.
  • The character originally depicted a mouth with a protruding tongue.
  • In Chinese culture, 'tongue' is closely associated with speech, language ability, and sometimes gossip.

FAQ