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垂涎三尺

Mandarin · pinyin chuí xián sān chǐ

Meanings

  1. to drool (over) (idiom)
  2. to yearn for
  3. to covet
  4. to crave
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Characters in this entry

垂
chuí · let down; suspend, hand; down
涎
xián · saliva
三
sān · three
尺
chǐ · Chinese measure approx. 'foot'
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Entries containing 垂涎三尺 ↗Words written with 垂 ↗Words written with 涎 ↗Words written with 三 ↗Words written with 尺 ↗

Mandarin tones

2–2–1–3 · chui2 xian2 san1 chi3

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Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

seoi4 jin4 saam1 cek3

Cantonese word readings for 垂涎三尺. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

seoi4 jin4 saam1 cek3

Pleco · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Word reading; meanings not aligned.

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

  1. (idiomatic) to drool (over); to yearn for (certain food or an item); to covet

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack