Definition
衔 is a literary/formal verb with several distinct senses tied to physical or figurative 'holding'. Most concretely, it means to hold something in the mouth (e.g., a pipe, cigarette). Figuratively, it can mean to harbor or bear a feeling (e.g., 衔恨 'to harbor resentment'). It also appears in the compound 衔接 to mean 'to link up, connect'. A noun sense (rank, title, as in 军衔) exists but belongs to a separate POS entry.
v.
to hold in the mouth (e.g., a pipe, cigarette)to harborto bear (a feeling, e.g., resentment)to link upto join (as in 衔接)
Examples
- 衔。Tā zuǐ lǐ xián zhe yì zhī xuějiā.He was holding a cigar in his mouth.
- 衔。Tā duì guòqù de shì xián hèn zài xīn.He harbors resentment in his heart over past events.
- 。Zhè liǎng tiáo dìtiě xiàn zài shì zhōngxīn xián jiē.These two subway lines connect at the city center.
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