舐める · ichidan verb
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 舐める | 舐めない |
| Polite | 舐めます | 舐めません |
| Past polite | 舐めました | 舐めませんでした |
| Past | 舐めた | 舐めなかった |
| Te-form | 舐めて | 舐めないで |
| Desire | 舐めたい | 舐めたくない |
| Potential | 舐められるalso 舐めれる | 舐められないalso 舐めれない |
| Passive | 舐められる | 舐められない |
| Causative | 舐めさせる | 舐めさせない |
| Causative passive | 舐めさせられる | 舐めさせられない |
| Volitional | 舐めよう | |
| Polite volitional | 舐めましょう | |
| Imperative | 舐めろ | 舐めるな |
| Conditional | 舐めれば | 舐めなければ |
| Tara conditional | 舐めたら | 舐めなかったら |
ichidan verb, transitive verb
Physical action of drawing the tongue across something; also used for animals lapping up liquids.
The cat is lapping up milk.
切手を舐めて封筒に貼った。
I licked the stamp and stuck it on the envelope.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
taste; try a small amount
To taste something by licking or taking a tiny amount into the mouth; often used when sampling food or drink.
ちょっとだけ舐めてみて、味を確かめた。
I tasted just a little to check the flavor.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
experience hardship; go through a bitter experience
Metaphorical use: to 'taste' a difficult or painful experience. Often used with words like 辛酸 (hardships) or 苦労 (toil).
彼は若い頃に辛酸を舐めてきた。
He went through many hardships when he was young.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
underestimate; make light of; look down on
Colloquial; implies treating someone or something with contempt or not taking them seriously. Often used in the negative imperative 舐めるな (Don't underestimate me/it). Usually written in kana.
あいつは俺を舐めてるな。
That guy is looking down on me.
舐めるなよ、まだ終わってない。
Don't underestimate me; it's not over yet.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
lick at (flames); burn
Describes flames or fire touching and consuming something; personification of fire 'licking' an object.
炎が建物を舐めるように燃え広がった。
The flames spread, licking at the building.
The cat is lapping up the milk.
I tasted a bit of the soup to check its flavor.
In his younger years, he lived through one hardship after another.
If you underestimate your opponent, you'll get burned.
The flames spread, licking up the walls.
lick one's lips
lick off; take off by licking
Rarely used kanji form.
Rarely used kanji form.