(shì) - To lick & to lap with the tongue.

Tone 4

shì | 10 strokes | radical:

· shì

To lick;

to lap with the tongue.

To lickto lap with the tongue.

Usage highlights

Lick the calfLick the woundLick the bloodLick the plateLick affectionatelyLick clean

Synonyms

  • to lick (more common modern term)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dog licked its bowl clean (舐干净).
  • The cat licked its paws (舐爪子).
  • He licked the ice cream (舐冰淇淋).
  • The mother bear licked her cub (舐幼崽).

Collocations

  • Lick the calf(舐犊)
  • Lick the wound(舐伤口)
  • Lick the blood(舐血)
  • Lick the plate(舐盘子)
  • Lick affectionately(舐舔)
  • Lick clean(舐净)

Idioms

  • Lick the calf情深(舐犊情深)
  • Lick the痔(舐痔吮痈)
  • Lick the痈 and suck the痔(舐痈吮痔)
  • Old cow licks calf(老牛舐犊)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used metaphorically to describe parental love and affection, as in '舐犊情深' (deep affection like a cow licking its calf).
  • Can carry negative connotations when used in phrases like '舐痔吮痈' (licking hemorrhoids and sucking boils), describing extreme flattery and sycophancy.
  • The character appears in classical Chinese texts and idioms, reflecting both positive familial bonds and negative servile behavior.

FAQ