Definitions
(noun)
tongue
Etymology
Depicts a tongue sticking out of a mouth.
About
The character "舌" originated as a pictographic representation of the human tongue, with its earliest forms depicting a protrusion from the mouth, often with added strokes to suggest texture or movement, which over time condensed into its current simplified structure consisting of a central vertical line capped by a horizontal stroke, possibly abstracted from earlier depictions of the mouth or taste buds. Initially referring strictly to the physical organ, its meaning expanded to encompass the tongue's functions in speech and taste, leading to its incorporation into compounds denoting verbal activity, such as "口舌" for argument or "舌战" for a war of words, as well as metaphorical applications like "火舌" to describe flickering flames. This semantic extension from a concrete anatomical term to an element expressing related actions and analogies reflects the character's integration of both literal and figurative roles within the language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的舌头很敏感。
医生检查了我的舌头。
他说话时舌头打结了。
她用舌头舔了舔嘴唇。
这场辩论变成了一场舌战。
舌苔的颜色可以反映健康状况。
为了避免口舌之争，他选择了沉默。
在语言学中，舌位是发音的关键因素。