涎 (xián) — saliva (formal/literary)
Definition
Formal/literary word for 'saliva'. Most often appears in the set phrases 垂涎三尺 (to drool with desire) and 流涎 (to drool); the everyday word is 口水.
noun
saliva (formal/literary)
Examples
- 。Tā kàn jiàn měi shí jiù chuí xián sān chǐ.He drools over delicious food (lit. 'drools three feet').
- 涎。Zhè zhǒng bìng huì dǎo zhì liú xián bù zhǐ.This disease can cause continuous drooling.
- 涎。Yīng ér shuì jiào shí cháng cháng liú xián.Babies often drool when they sleep.
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