豤 (kěn) - To gnaw, to bite & to persevere

豤Tone 3

kěn ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

豤 · kěn

To gnaw, to bite;

to persevere;

to be diligent and persistent.

To gnaw, to biteto persevereto be diligent and persistent.

Usage highlights

Gnawing on bonesDiligent studyPersevering effortGnawing teethBiting determination

Synonyms

  • 啃— to gnaw, to nibble
  • 咬— to bite
  • 坚— persistent, firm

Antonyms

  • 松— loose, relaxed
  • 弃— to abandon, to give up

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dog gnawed on the bone (豤骨头).
  • He persevered in his studies (豤学).
  • They worked diligently on the project (豤力).

Collocations

  • Gnawing on bones(豤骨)
  • Diligent study(豤学)
  • Persevering effort(豤力)
  • Gnawing teeth(豤齿)
  • Biting determination(豤志)

Idioms

  • Perseverance leads to success(豤志有成)
  • Diligent study yields results(豤学成才)
  • Gnawing through difficulties(豤难而上)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a pig gnawing at something, representing persistent action.
  • Used metaphorically for human perseverance and diligent effort in classical texts.
  • The character combines the pig radical with the phonetic component 艮, suggesting stubborn persistence.

FAQ