叼

diāo

刁 + 口

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

diāo (verb) to hold in one's mouth

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 刁

About

The character 叼 is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side radical 口 (mouth) signals an oral action, while the right-side component 刁 gives the sound. It means to hold something firmly between the teeth or lips, with part of it protruding, rather than swallowing or consuming it. This action is most often associated with animals carrying prey or objects, a dog with a bone, a bird with twigs, but it also applies to people who hold items like cigarettes, pipes, or pens in their lips.

Example Sentences Hide

狗叼着一根骨头。

Gǒu diāo zhe yī gēn gǔtou.

The dog is holding a bone in its mouth.

小猫叼来一只老鼠。

Xiǎo māo diāo lái yī zhī lǎoshǔ.

The kitten brought a mouse in its mouth.

他嘴里叼着一支烟。

Tā zuǐ lǐ diāo zhe yī zhī yān.

He has a cigarette in his mouth.

老鹰叼走了一只小鸡。

Lǎo yīng diāo zǒu le yī zhī xiǎo jī.

The eagle carried off a chick in its talons.

孩子叼着奶瓶睡着了。

Háizi diāo zhe nǎipíng shuì zháo le.

The child fell asleep with a milk bottle in his mouth.

不要用嘴叼着筷子。

Bùyào yòng zuǐ diāo zhe kuàizi.

Do not hold chopsticks in your mouth.

他习惯叼着笔思考问题。

Tā xíguàn diāo zhe bǐ sīkǎo wèntí.

He habitually holds a pen in his mouth while thinking about problems.

警察训练警犬叼回物品。

Jǐngchá xùnliàn jǐngquǎn diāo huí wùpǐn.

The police train police dogs to retrieve items by holding them in their mouth.

Related Characters

Component: 刁

Component: 口