叼

diāo

刁 + 口

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 7

Frequency#3703

Definitions

diāo (verb) to hold in one's mouth

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 刁

About

The character "叼" is structurally composed of the mouth radical "口" on the left and the component "刁" on the right, with "刁" providing phonetic guidance and contributing semantic notions of sharpness or cunning. Etymologically, this combination formed a character dedicated to denoting the physical act of gripping or carrying an object between the teeth, as in animals clasping food. Its meaning later extended to figurative realms, applying to speech that carries a sharp, sarcastic, or incisive tone, thereby aligning with the pointed attributes inherent in the "刁" element. This progression from concrete action to abstract verbal description illustrates the character's functional adaptation within the language while maintaining its core structural integrity.

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