About
涎 is predominantly a noun denoting saliva or spit, though it can also serve as a verb meaning to drool, either literally or figuratively, or to intensely desire something. In its structure, it is a phono-semantic compound: the left piece 氵, the water radical, indicates its association with liquids and bodily fluids, while the right piece 延 (yán) supplies the pronunciation. Although the literal biological meaning remains, the character found a powerful metaphorical role, famously in idioms such as 垂涎三尺 (to drool three feet long), capturing someone's greed, envy, or covetousness over a coveted object or situation.
Example Sentences Hide
婴儿经常流涎。
他睡觉时流涎。
看到草莓蛋糕我垂涎。
这只狗对着肉流涎。
婴儿的涎水弄湿了衣服。
他忍不住对新车垂涎。
看到如此精美的艺术品，他不禁垂涎。
长期流涎可能是健康问题的征兆。
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