啀 (ái) - To bare one's teeth & to snarl

啀Tone 2

ái ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

安

啀 · ái

To bare one's teeth;

to snarl;

to growl (as an animal);

to show hostility or aggression.

To bare one's teethto snarlto growl (as an animal)

Usage highlights

Bare teethSnarl at each otherGrowl fiercelyDog's snarlTiger's growl

Synonyms

  • 龇— to bare teeth
  • 吠— to bark
  • 吼— to roar

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dog bared its teeth (啀牙).
  • The two dogs snarled at each other (两狗相啀).
  • He was so angry he seemed to growl (气得直啀).

Collocations

  • Bare teeth(啀牙)
  • Snarl at each other(相啀)
  • Growl fiercely(怒啀)
  • Dog's snarl(犬啀)
  • Tiger's growl(虎啀)

Idioms

  • Baring teeth and brandishing claws(啀牙舞爪)
  • Snarling like a dog(犬吠相啀)
  • Growling with bared teeth(呲牙啀嘴)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily used to describe aggressive animal behavior, particularly dogs baring teeth.
  • Can be used metaphorically for humans showing extreme anger or hostility.
  • Appears in classical texts describing fierce animals or confrontational situations.

FAQ