Translation guide
The act of passing the tongue over something. In Japanese, the most common verb is 舐める (なめる), but there are also more specific or nuanced terms. This guide covers how to express licking in various contexts, from literal to figurative.
To pass the tongue over a surface, such as food, lips, or an object.
The standard verb for 'to lick'. Used for licking food, lips, stamps, etc. Transitive verb.
犬が私の手を舐めた。
The dog licked my hand.
アイスクリームを舐める。
I lick an ice cream.
Alternative kanji for 舐める, but rarely used in modern Japanese. 舐める is preferred.
彼は傷を嘗めた。
He licked the wound.
To moisten the lips with the tongue, often in anticipation or after eating.
The standard phrase for licking one's lips.
彼は唇を舐めてから話し始めた。
He licked his lips and then started talking.
Literally 'to do tongue-licking'. Implies licking one's lips in anticipation of something delicious or desirable, often used figuratively.
彼はごちそうを前にして舌なめずりをした。
He licked his lips in anticipation of the feast.
To consume something by licking, such as a lollipop or sauce.
Used for eating by licking, like a lollipop or ice cream cone.
キャンディーを舐める。
I lick a candy.
To lick off or lick up completely. Often used for licking sauce from a plate or fingers.
彼は皿のソースを舐め取った。
He licked the sauce off the plate.
To moisten adhesive with the tongue.
The standard verb for licking a stamp or envelope.
切手を舐めて封筒に貼る。
I lick a stamp and put it on the envelope.
To undergo a bitter experience, often used in set phrases.
Idiom meaning 'to have a bitter experience' or 'to taste the bitterness of defeat'. Literally 'to lick bitter juice'.
彼は人生で何度も苦汁を舐めてきた。
He has tasted the bitterness of life many times.
Similar to 苦汁を舐める, meaning to go through hardships. Literally 'to lick hardships and bitterness'.
彼は若い頃に辛酸を舐めた。
He went through hardships when he was young.
To treat someone with contempt, as if licking them (derogatory).
Slang meaning 'to underestimate' or 'to look down on'. Often used in the phrase 舐めてかかる or 舐めた態度.
This usage is very informal and can be offensive. It implies contempt.
あいつ、俺を舐めてるな。
That guy is looking down on me.
舐めた真似すると痛い目にあうぞ。
If you mess with me, you'll regret it.
Describing flames that touch or spread over a surface.
Used metaphorically for flames 'licking' something.
炎が建物を舐めるように燃え広がった。
The flames spread, licking the building.
When an animal licks itself or others for cleaning.
Used for animals licking themselves or others.
猫が毛を舐めて手入れをしている。
The cat is grooming itself by licking its fur.
Specifically means 'to groom' (fur), often by licking. Used for animals like cats.
猫が毛繕いをしている。
The cat is grooming itself.
In English, 'licking' can be used in many idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'licking one's wounds'). These often do not translate directly to 舐める. For example, 'licking one's wounds' is better expressed as 傷を癒やす (きずをいやす) or 心の傷を癒やす (こころのきずをいやす).
舐める (なめる) means to lick with the tongue, while しゃぶる means to suck or hold in the mouth and lick, like sucking on a candy or thumb. Do not confuse them.