zǎn

噆

Character · Verb

hold in mouth; bite; sting

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

verb

to hold in the mouth; to carry in the beak (as birds do)

literary

Literary term describing how birds carry food or nesting materials in their beaks. Classical Chinese usage.

Yàn燕
zi子
zǎn噆
ní泥
zhù筑
cháo巢
yú于
yán檐
xià下
 。

The swallows carried mud in their beaks to build a nest under the eaves.

Niǎo鸟
zǎn噆
shí食
ér而
guī归
 ，
bǔ哺
qí其
yòu幼
 。

The bird carried food back in its beak to feed its young.

2.

verb

to bite; to sting; to nip

literary

Literary term for biting or stinging, especially by insects. Found in classical texts like Zhuangzi.

Wén蚊
méng虻
zǎn噆
fū肤
 ，
zé则
tōng通
xī昔
bù不
mèi寐
yǐ矣
 。

When mosquitoes and gadflies bite the skin, one cannot sleep through the night.

Xíng行
zhě者
bèi被
dú毒
chóng虫
zǎn噆
le了
yī一
kǒu口
 ，
zhǒng肿
tòng痛
nán难
rěn忍
 。

The traveler was bitten by a poisonous insect, and the swelling and pain were unbearable.