HSK 6

叼

diāo

to hold with one's mouth

HSK 6 叼 口 5 strokes
Stroke order animation for 叼

Words with this Character

叼 diāo HSK 6
to hold with one's mouth (as a smoker with a cigarette or a dog with a

Usage and Nuances

The verb 叼 (diāo) specifically describes the action of holding something in the mouth, often small objects like cigarettes, bones, or sticks. It is commonly used to depict animals holding items or people holding cigarettes.

Common Contexts

  • Describing animals holding objects, e.g., dogs with bones.
  • Describing people holding cigarettes or similar items in their mouths.
  • Advising against holding things in the mouth during conversation due to politeness.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 叼着烟 (diāo zhe yān): holding a cigarette in the mouth.
  • 叼着骨头 (diāo zhe gǔtou): holding a bone in the mouth.
  • 别叼着东西说话 (bié diāo zhe dōngxī shuōhuà): don't talk while holding something in your mouth.

Register and Tone

叼 is informal and often used in spoken language or casual writing. It can carry a slightly vivid or colloquial tone, especially when describing animals or casual human behavior.

Common Confusion

叼 should not be confused with 咬 (yǎo), which means "to bite." 叼 emphasizes holding or carrying in the mouth without biting down, while 咬 implies biting or chewing.

Example Sentences

小狗叼着一根骨头在院子里玩。

Xiǎo gǒu diāo zhe yī gēn gǔtou zài yuànzi lǐ wán.

The puppy is holding a bone in its mouth and playing in the yard.

他叼着烟，神情很酷。

Tā diāo zhe yān, shénqíng hěn kù.

He is holding a cigarette in his mouth, looking very cool.

别叼着东西说话，显得不礼貌。

Bié diāo zhe dōngxī shuōhuà, xiǎnde bù lǐmào.

Don't talk while holding something in your mouth; it looks impolite.