# 垂涎三尺

chuí xián sān chǐ

Crave or covet something intensely

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Drool three feet long

**Register:** Expressive · general

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe strong desire for food or coveted possessions.

Can sound greedy or humorous; not a neutral statement of preference.

## Understanding the expression

An absurdly long stream of drool makes desire visible and exaggerated. The expression can literally concern delicious food or figuratively describe coveting wealth, an object, or an opportunity. It often sounds humorous in food contexts and more critical when ambition targets someone else's possessions. The number is not a measurement. The sentence should identify what is desired, because the intensity can communicate either playful appetite or troubling greed depending on its object.

## Examples

烤鸭的香味让他垂涎三尺。

### Traditional Chinese

烤鴨的香味讓他垂涎三尺。

kǎo yā de xiāng wèi ràng tā chuí xián sān chǐ 。

The roast duck's aroma made him crave it.

她对那台旧相机垂涎三尺。

### Traditional Chinese

她對那臺舊相機垂涎三尺。

tā duì nà tái jiù xiàng jī chuí xián sān chǐ 。

She intensely wants that vintage camera.

骗子对老人积蓄垂涎三尺。

### Traditional Chinese

騙子對老人積蓄垂涎三尺。

piàn zi duì lǎo rén jī xù chuí xián sān chǐ 。

The scammer greedily covets the elder's savings.

孩子们看着蛋糕垂涎三尺。

### Traditional Chinese

孩子們看著蛋糕垂涎三尺。

hái zi men kàn zhe dàn gāo chuí xián sān chǐ 。

The children gazed hungrily at the cake.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%9E%82%E6%B6%8E%E4%B8%89%E5%B0%BA)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=655&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [粗茶淡饭 cū chá dàn fàn Simple, plain meals or a modest way of living ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cu-cha-dan-fan)

- [大腹便便 dà fù pián pián Have a noticeably large belly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-fu-pian-pian)

- [大惑不解 dà huò bù jiě Be completely puzzled ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-huo-bu-jie)

- [大开眼界 dà kāi yǎn jiè Greatly broaden your experience ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-kai-yan-jie)

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