How to say "lap" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers the verb 'to lap': taking in liquid with the tongue, as a cat or dog does. It is essentially a licking action, not the noun sense of 'lap'.
- 膝ひざnounThe noun sense: the knee-and-thigh area when sitting — the English 'lap' — where a child or a plate can rest. It is not a verb; for lapping liquid use なめる.
Use 「なめる」 for the verb sense, an animal taking in liquid with its tongue, and 膝 for the noun sense, the flat surface of the thighs when a person is sitting down.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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