Chinese word

舔

Pronunciation

Pinyintiǎn

Meaning

  • verblick

Example

狗在公园里舔主人的手。gǒu zài gōng yuán lǐ tiǎn zhǔ rén de shǒu

The dog is licking its owner's hand in the park.

Illustration for 舔 (lick)

More examples

她为了升职，在老板面前不停地舔马屁。tā wèi le shēng zhí zài láo bǎn miàn qián bù tíng dì tiǎn mǎ pì

She keeps kissing up to her boss to get promoted.

Core concept

A tongue repeatedly touches a surface, an image extended to someone who keeps pleasing another person for approval.

Common phrases

  • 舔马屁tiǎn mǎ pì

    kiss up to

  • 舔嘴唇tiǎn zuǐ chún

    lick one's lips

  • 舔伤口tiǎn shāng kǒu

    lick a wound

Similar words

讨好táo hǎo: Try to gain someone's approval through pleasing words or actions.
拍马屁pāi mǎ pì: Use excessive praise to gain someone's favor.
吮吸shǔn xī: Draw something in or make it wet by sucking with the mouth or tongue.
咬yǎo: Use the teeth to hold something tightly, cut it, or break it.

Definition in Chinese

用舌头舔食物或物体的动作；在口语中也用来形容对人阿谀奉承、讨好。yòng shé tou tiǎn shí wù huò wù tǐ de dòng zuò zài kóu yǔ zhōng yě yòng lái xíng róng duì rén ē yú fèng chéng táo hǎo

Word origin

舔 (tiǎn, "lick") combines 舌 (shé, "tongue") with 忝 (tiǎn, "feel ashamed") as a phonetic component, and its social sense grows from the vivid image of repeated tongue contact.

Usage tips

  • When it describes a person's behavior toward someone, it usually sounds mocking or contemptuous rather than neutral, so it suits criticism more than polite description.

Other meanings

  • fawn onverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 舔舐tiǎn shìlickverb
  • 舔狗tiǎn gǒubootlickernoun

Word lists with this word