Japanese

める

なめる
Meaning: to lick; to suck; to experience; to underestimate
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 舐める 舐めない
Polite 舐めます 舐めません
Past 舐めた 舐めなかった
Polite + Past 舐めました 舐めませんでした
Te-form 舐めて 舐めなくて
Potential 舐められる 舐められない
Passive 舐められる 舐められない
Causative 舐めさせる 舐めさせない
Imperative 舐めろ 舐めるな

Handwriting

舐
め
る

Example sentences

A kitten is licking its parent cat's ear.
彼は舌先でアイスクリームを舐めた。
He licked the ice cream with the tip of his tongue.
子供は公園で棒付きキャンディーを舐めていた。
A child was licking a lollipop in the park.
彼は長年、都会の残杯冷炙を舐めるような生活を送ってきた。
He has spent many years living a life like licking the leftovers of the city.

Usage Notes

Can refer to literal licking with a tongue, or figuratively to experiencing hardship or underestimating someone.

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