‘叼来’ is a compound verb meaning 'to bring something in one's mouth', typically describing an animal carrying an object—like food, a stick, or a toy—between its teeth and delivering it to a person or location. The first character 叼 (diāo) means 'to hold or carry in the mouth', while 来 (lái) adds directionality and completion, indicating movement toward the speaker or a specified point. Together, they emphasize both the manner (oral carrying) and the result (arrival with the object).

This verb is most commonly used for dogs, cats, birds, or other animals that physically retrieve and transport items orally. It carries a neutral-to-affectionate tone and often appears in everyday narratives about pets or wildlife behavior. Unlike generic verbs like 拿来 (ná lái, 'to bring'), 叼来 specifically highlights the mouth as the tool of transport—so it’s rarely used for humans unless humorously or metaphorically (e.g., describing a child pretending to be a dog). It’s frequently heard in spoken Chinese and informal writing.