Chinese word

淋

Pronunciation

Pinyinlín

Meaning

  • verbpour over

Example

服务员把葱油淋在豆腐上。fú wù yuán bǎ cōng yóu lín zài dòu fǔ shàng

The server poured scallion oil over the tofu.

Illustration for 淋 (pour over)

More examples

小狗在雨中跑，被雨淋湿了。xiáo gǒu zài yǔ zhōng pǎo bèi yǔ lín shī le

The puppy ran in the rain and got wet from the rain.

Core concept

Liquid falls or is spread from above onto something, leaving a surface partly or completely wet.

Common phrases

  • 淋上醋lín shàng cù

    pour vinegar over

  • 淋湿衣物lín shī yī wù

    wet clothes

Similar words

浇jiāo: Cover an object with liquid poured from above, making it thoroughly wet.
倒dào: Tip a container so that liquid flows out into another place or container.
注zhù: Direct liquid into a container or place for it to collect there.
洒sǎ: Sprinkle liquid or powder broadly in many small drops or grains.

Definition in Chinese

把液体从上方倾倒到物体表面或内部，使其部分或整体变湿bǎ yè tǐ cóng shàng fāng qīng dǎo dào wù tǐ biǎo miàn huò nèi bù shǐ qí bù fèn huò zhéng tǐ biàn shī

Word origin

淋 (lín, "pour over") combines 氵 (shuǐ, "water") + 林 (lín, "woods"), so the first component signals the water sense and the second gives the pronunciation.

Usage tips

  • Native English speakers may expect one verb for adding a topping and another for making something thoroughly wet, but context and the amount of liquid show the range of this Chinese verb.

Other meanings

  • drenchverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word