老牛舐犊 Traditional form: 老牛舐犢 Pinyin (reading): lǎoniúshìdú Definitions: lit. an old ox licking its calf (idiom) fig. (of parents) to dote on one's children Characters: 老 - old, aged; experienced 牛 - ox, cow, bull 舐 - to lick, to lap up 犊 - calf; sacrificial lamb Traditional characters: 老 - old, aged; experienced 牛 - ox, cow, bull 舐 - to lick, to lap up 犢 - calf; sacrificial lamb