masturbation
masturbation — noun
1. stimulating your own sexual organs with your hands or by rubbing against somethi
stimulating your own sexual organs with your hands or by rubbing against something, in order to experience sexual pleasure; an activity considered normal in human development
Beatrix felt embarrassed when her mother walked into her room while she was masturbating.
intransitive verb form — masturbating (subject does it to themself)
Dr. Lakan told the class that masturbation does not cause any physical or mental health problems.
Many studies show that regular masturbation is a common and healthy part of adult life.
After reading a book about human sexuality, Noa learned that feeling curious about masturbation is completely normal.
- self-pleasuring
softer, more positive connotation; often used in sex-positive writing instead of the clinical term
- self-stimulation
broader term that can also describe non-sexual touching (e.g., rubbing a sore muscle)
- onanism
very rare, formal, and historical; most modern English speakers will not recognize this word
文法句型
masturbation (as subject or object of a clause)
masturbate (intransitive verb form — to do it to yourself)
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, many informal alternatives exist (e.g., 'jacking off,' 'wanking,' 'touching yourself'), but 'masturbation' is the standard neutral term used in education, medical, and formal contexts.
常見錯誤
2. the act of manually stimulating a partner's sexual organs during intimate activi
the act of manually stimulating a partner's sexual organs during intimate activity as a way of giving them pleasure; often discussed in the context of relationships, foreplay, or sexual therapy
Diya asked her partner whether they enjoyed mutual masturbation as part of foreplay.
mutual masturbation — both partners do it to each other
Adisa and his girlfriend found that mutual masturbation helped them feel more comfortable together.
The nurse explained that masturbating a partner can be a safe way to explore each other's bodies.
The couple's counselor suggested mutual masturbation as an exercise for building trust.
- mutual masturbation
more specific — implies both partners are doing it to each other at the same time
- manual stimulation
broader clinical term that can include non-sexual medical or therapeutic contexts
文法句型
mutual masturbation (noun phrase — both partners do it to each other)
masturbate + person (transitive verb form — doing it to someone else)
用法筆記
This sense requires a clear context (e.g., relationship, therapy) because without context, 'masturbation' alone is usually understood as self-directed (sense 1). The adjective 'mutual' or a possessive phrase ('masturbation of a partner') helps disambiguate.