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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

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

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng叮dīng
Same sound today

叮 combines 口, the mouth, with 丁, which gives the sound.

Appears in
Insects

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