吮

shǔn

允 + 口

Definitions

shǔn to suck

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 允 represents the sound.

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 允

About

The character 吮 is a phono-semantic compound: 口 (mouth) on the left indicates the meaning, and 允 (yǔn) on the right gives the sound. It denotes the physical act of sucking, drawing liquid into the mouth or extracting fluid by creating a vacuum with the lips, as when an infant nurses. While the meaning is firmly rooted in this action, 吮 occasionally appears in historical idioms describing obsequious, flattering behavior, where the act of sucking metaphorically represents fawning on a superior for personal gain.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

婴儿在吮吸乳汁。

Yīng'ér zài shǔnxī rǔzhī.

The infant is sucking milk.

他喜欢吮吸手指。

Tā xǐhuān shǔnxī shǒuzhǐ.

He likes to suck his fingers.

小狗在吮舔伤口。

Xiǎo gǒu zài shǔntiǎn shāngkǒu.

The puppy is licking its wound.

她慢慢地吮吸着果汁。

Tā mànman de shǔnxīzhe guǒzhī.

She slowly sips the juice.

孩子吮吸棒棒糖很开心。

Háizi shǔnxī bàngbàngtáng hěn kāixīn.

The child is happy sucking on a lollipop.

不要吮吸被污染的水。

Bùyào shǔnxī bèi wūrǎn de shuǐ.

Do not suck polluted water.

植物通过根部吮吸水份。

Zhíwù tōngguò gēnbù shǔnxī shuǐfèn.

Plants absorb water through their roots.

他在黑暗中吮吸新鲜空气，试图平静下来。

Tā zài hēi'àn zhōng shǔnxī xīnxiān kōngqì, shìtú píngjìng xiàlái.

He sucks in fresh air in the darkness, trying to calm down.

Related Characters

Component: 允

Component: 口

吮