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Word 2551 of 4449

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嘗める

なめる

to lick; to taste; to experience (hardship); to make light of; to treat with contempt

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 猫が手を嘗めている。

    ねこがてをなめている。

    The cat is licking my hand.

  2. 俺を嘗めるな。

    おれをなめるな。

    Don't take me lightly.

  3. 彼は若いころ辛酸を嘗めた。

    かれはわかいころしんさんをなめた。

    He went through bitter hardships when he was young.

  4. 相手を嘗めてかかったせいで、思わぬ苦戦を強いられた。

    あいてをなめてかかったせいで、おもわぬくせんをしいられた。

    Because we underestimated our opponent, we found ourselves in an unexpectedly hard fight.

Common patterns

辛酸を嘗める
to go through bitter hardship
嘗めてかかる
to go in underestimating someone
人を嘗める
to treat someone with contempt

Memory tip

One verb, three registers: literal licking, the set phrase 辛酸をなめる 'taste hardship', and the rough slang なめるな 'don't underestimate me'. Everyday writing uses 舐める or kana; 嘗める is the older spelling that survives in 辛酸を嘗める.

Kanji in this word

  • 嘗Not in the N5–N1 kanji lists

Quick check

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What does 嘗める mean?