囓 (niè) - To gnaw, to nibble, to bite & to erode or wear away gradually.
囓 · niè
To gnaw, to nibble, to bite;
to erode or wear away gradually.
To gnaw, to nibble, to biteto erode or wear away gradually.
Usage highlights
gnaw and bitegnaw througherode and breakgnaw marksgnawing paingnaw at one's heart
Usage & contexts
Examples
- The mouse gnawed through the wood (老鼠囓木).
- Constant worry erodes one's health (忧思囓心).
- The river gradually nibbled away at the riverbank (河水囓岸).
Collocations
- gnaw and bite(囓咬)
- gnaw through(囓穿)
- erode and break(囓破)
- gnaw marks(囓痕)
- gnawing pain(囓痛)
- gnaw at one's heart(囓心)
Idioms
- Gnawing at one's heart like a worm(虫囓心)
- Gnawing through metal and biting through stone(囓金嚼石)
- Gnawing at books and chewing on characters(囓书嚼字)
Cultural background
FAQ- Often used metaphorically for gradual erosion or persistent mental anguish.
- Appears in classical literature describing both physical gnawing and psychological torment.
- Related to 啮, which is the standard simplified form.