吞 tūn to absorb
to absorb; to annex; to engulf; to swallow; to take
How to remember 吞: 天 day + 口 mouth = to absorb. Calling it his lucky day, the greedy uncle opens his mouth in a grin, ready to absorb every street on the board.
Component breakdown
吞 = 天 day + 口 mouth
- 天 day
- 一 one
- 大 big
- 口 mouth
Calling it his lucky day, the greedy uncle opens his mouth in a grin, ready to absorb every street on the board.
How it is used
- To swallow (whole) or to engulf/annex - 吞下去 (tūn xiàqu) swallow it down, 吞并 (tūnbìng) annex.
- 狼吞虎咽 (lángtūn-hǔyàn) = to wolf down food; 吞吞吐吐 (tūntūntǔtǔ) = to mumble hesitantly.
- Contrast 咽 (yàn, to swallow down the throat): 吞 stresses taking in whole/greedily, often figuratively.