‘叮咬’ is a compound verb meaning 'to sting and bite', primarily describing the dual action of certain insects—like mosquitoes, bees, or wasps—that first pierce the skin with a proboscis or stinger (叮) and then inject venom or saliva (咬). The character 叮 evokes a sharp, piercing sensation (often associated with sound or quick contact), while 咬 literally means 'to bite', implying pressure and penetration. Together, they emphasize both the puncturing and the biting-like irritation caused by insect attacks.

This word is commonly used in health, outdoor, and medical contexts to describe unpleasant or potentially harmful insect encounters. It’s more vivid and specific than generic terms like ‘bite’ (咬) alone, and carries a connotation of discomfort, swelling, or allergic reaction. While it can occasionally refer to small animals (e.g., ticks), it is overwhelmingly used for arthropods—not mammals or reptiles—and rarely appears in formal scientific writing, favoring clinical terms like ‘sting’ or ‘bite’ instead.