叮 (dīng) — to sting; to bite (of insects, snakes, etc.); to repeatedly say or ask; to nag
Definition
Onomatopoeic verb for a small, sharp sting or bite (mosquito, bee, etc.). Also describes pestering someone by repeatedly asking — close to the colloquial 缠着 / 磨人, but emphasizes the nagging 'ding-ding' quality of the requests.
verb
to stingto bite (of insects, snakes, etc.)to repeatedly say or askto nag
Easily confused
- 汀tīnglook-alike(b.f.) shore, beach, shoal (in literary/poetic compounds and place names)
- 丁dīngsound-alikefourth in a series (grade D, fourth Heavenly Stem, etc.)
- 盯dīnglook-aliketo stare at, to fix one's attention on, to gaze at
- 酊dīngsound-aliketincture (loanword, used in 酊剂 and compound terms)
- 打dǎlook-aliketo hit, strike, beat
- 町dīngsound-alikebound form meaning a raised path between fields; a field (in compounds or literary use)
Examples
- 叮。Wén zi dīng le wǒ yí xià.A mosquito bit me.
- 叮。Tā zǒng dīng zhe wǒ wèn wèn tí.He keeps asking me questions.
- 叮。Hái zi yì zhí dīng zhe mā ma yào táng.The child kept pestering her mom for candy.
Origin
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.