舔 tiǎn to lick
to lick; to taste
How to remember 舔: 舌 tongue + 天 day + ⺗ heart = to lick. The boy sticks out his tongue, blesses the day the ice cream van came with all his heart, and begins to lick his cone.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
舔 = 舌 tongue + 忝 shame
- 舌 tongue meaning
- 忝 shame sound
- 天 day
- 一 one
- 大 big
- ⺗ heart
- 天 day
The boy sticks out his tongue, blesses the day the ice cream van came with all his heart, and begins to lick his cone.
How it came to be
The tongue gives the meaning and the sign for shame the sound.
How it is used
- "To lick" with the tongue: 舔嘴唇 (tiǎn zuǐchún) to lick one's lips, 小狗舔我的手 (xiǎogǒu tiǎn wǒ de shǒu) the puppy licks my hand.
- Internet slang 舔狗 (tiǎngǒu), lit. "licking dog," = a fawning simp who grovels for someone's affection; 舔 alone can mean to bootlick.