舐める

• Reading: なめる
• Romaji: nameru
• Kanji breakdown: 舐 (name/shi) — to lick, lap
• Pronunciation: /na.me.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To lick; to lap; to taste. Also used colloquially to mean 'to underestimate' or 'to look down on.'

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. The literal meaning is to lick, but the figurative meaning 舐めるな (don't underestimate me) is extremely common in everyday speech and media. Both usages are important for N2 learners.

Examples

1. 犬が飼い主の顔を舐めている。 The dog is licking its owner's face.
2. このアイスは溶ける前に早く舐めないと。 I'd better lick this ice cream before it melts.
3. 試験を舐めていたら不合格になった。 I underestimated the exam and ended up failing.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, slang, food

Tone: varied

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 舐 combines 舌 (tongue) with 氏 as a phonetic element, directly depicting the act of using one's tongue.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal