Definitions

diāo (verb) to hold in one's mouth

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

Etymologically derived from the mouth radical "口" paired with "刁" as a phonetic element, the character "叼" initially conveyed the specific action of gripping an object between the teeth, often in reference to animals. Its structural composition has persisted without substantial modification, reflecting a direct semantic link to oral retention. Over time, the meaning of "叼" extended from this physical act to describe verbal expressions characterized by a sharp or caustic tone, thereby adapting the original concept of firm holding to the realm of speech. This evolution demonstrates how the character's core imagery of secure enclosure has been applied to both tangible and abstract contexts.

Example Sentences Hide

着一根骨头。

Gǒu diāo zhe yī gēn gǔtou.

The dog is holding a bone in its mouth.

小猫来一只老鼠。

Xiǎo māo diāo lái yī zhī lǎoshǔ.

The kitten brought a mouse in its mouth.

他嘴里着一支烟。

Tā zuǐ lǐ diāo zhe yī zhī yān.

He has a cigarette in his mouth.

老鹰走了一只小鸡。

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.

不要用嘴着筷子。

Bùyào yòng zuǐ diāo zhe kuàizi.

Do not hold chopsticks in your mouth.

他习惯着笔思考问题。

Tā xíguàn diāo zhe bǐ sīkǎo wèntí.

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

警察训练警犬回物品。

Jǐngchá xùnliàn jǐngquǎn diāo huí wùpǐn.

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