About
The character "舔" is a phono-semantic compound formed by the semantic radical "舌", meaning tongue, and the phonetic component "忝", which historically provided its pronunciation, structurally linking the character to the bodily organ central to its action. Its core meaning has consistently referred to the physical act of licking, a direct association maintained through its etymological construction. Over time, while retaining this literal sense, the term has developed extended metaphorical applications, particularly in contemporary usage where it frequently denotes acts of excessive flattery or servile behavior, thus expanding its semantic field from a simple physical description to a critique of social dynamics.
Example Sentences Hide
小狗舔我的手掌。
孩子舔着甜筒。
猫经常舔自己的爪子。
他舔了舔干燥的嘴唇。
请不要舔你的伤口。
那只熊在舔蜂蜜。
她用舌头舔了舔邮票。
谄媚者喜欢舔上司的鞋子。