舔 (tiǎn) - lick — to pass the tongue over something & to lap

舔Tone 3

tiǎn ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

舔 · tiǎn

lick — to pass the tongue over something;

to lap;

to flatter obsequiously.

lick — to pass the tongue over somethingto lapto flatter obsequiously.

Usage highlights

lick cleanlick one's woundslick one's lipslick the platelick bootslick honey

Synonyms

  • 舐— to lick (more literary)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The cat licked its paw (舔爪子).
  • He licked the ice cream cone (舔冰淇淋).
  • Don't lick the envelope (舔信封).
  • The dog licked the bowl clean (舔干净碗).

Collocations

  • lick clean(舔干净)
  • lick one's wounds(舔伤口)
  • lick one's lips(舔嘴唇)
  • lick the plate(舔盘子)
  • lick boots(舔靴子)
  • lick honey(舔蜂蜜)

Idioms

  • Lick the hemorrhoids and suck the boils(舐痈舔痔)
  • Lick the honey from the blade of a sword(刀头舔蜜)
  • Lick the calf(舔犊)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character 舔 combines 舌 (tongue) and 忝 (to disgrace), suggesting the action of the tongue.
  • In modern internet slang, 舔狗 refers to someone who flatters others obsequiously, often in romantic contexts.
  • The idiom 舐痈舔痔 describes extreme sycophancy, originating from ancient stories of servile behavior.

FAQ