舌

jī, shé

千 + 口

Definitions

shé (noun) tongue

Etymology

Depicts a tongue sticking out of a mouth.

About

舌 is an ideograph showing a tongue sticking out of a mouth. The bottom component 口 represents the mouth, while the top, originally a tongue with a tip, has evolved into its present abstract shape. It functions as both an independent word for "tongue" and a radical in characters linked to tasting, licking, and speech. The primary definition is the muscular organ, occasionally extended to tongue-like objects.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我的舌头很敏感。

Wǒ de shétou hěn mǐngǎn.

My tongue is very sensitive.

医生检查了我的舌头。

Yīshēng jiǎnchá le wǒ de shétou.

The doctor examined my tongue.

他说话时舌头打结了。

Tā shuōhuà shí shétou dǎjié le.

His tongue got tangled when he spoke.

她用舌头舔了舔嘴唇。

Tā yòng shétou tiǎn le tiǎn zuǐchún.

She licked her lips with her tongue.

这场辩论变成了一场舌战。

Zhè chǎng biànlùn biànchéng le yī chǎng shézhàn.

This debate turned into a war of words.

舌苔的颜色可以反映健康状况。

Shétāi de yánsè kěyǐ fǎnyìng jiànkāng zhuàngkuàng.

The color of the tongue coating can reflect health conditions.

为了避免口舌之争，他选择了沉默。

Wèile bìmiǎn kǒushé zhī zhēng, tā xuǎnzé le chénmò.

To avoid a war of words, he chose to remain silent.

在语言学中，舌位是发音的关键因素。

Zài yǔyán xué zhōng, shéwèi shì fāyīn de guānjiàn yīnsù.

In linguistics, tongue position is a key factor in pronunciation.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 千

Component: 口

Example Words