齕 (hé) - To gnaw, to bite, to chew & specifically refers to the action of biting with

齕Tone 2

hé ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

齕 · hé

To gnaw, to bite, to chew;

specifically refers to the action of biting with teeth, often used in classical Chinese.

To gnaw, to bite, to chewspecifically refers to the action of biting with

Usage highlights

Gnaw atBite and chewGnaw throughBite the bitGnaw on bonesInsect gnawing

Synonyms

  • 咬— to bite (more common modern term)
  • 啃— to gnaw, to nibble
  • 啮— to gnaw, to bite (classical)

Antonyms

  • 吐— to spit out
  • 咽— to swallow

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The horse gnawed at the bit (马齕衔).
  • Rats gnaw through wood (鼠齕木).
  • He bit into the hard bread (他齕硬面包).

Collocations

  • Gnaw at(齕啮)
  • Bite and chew(齕嚼)
  • Gnaw through(齕穿)
  • Bite the bit(齕衔)
  • Gnaw on bones(齕骨)
  • Insect gnawing(虫齕)

Idioms

  • To gnaw and bite relentlessly(齕啮不休)
  • Gnawing through metal and stone(齕金齧石)
  • Biting to the bone(齕骨之恨)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily appears in classical Chinese texts and medical contexts describing biting or chewing actions.
  • Used in traditional Chinese medicine to describe teeth-related conditions or biting behaviors.
  • Considered a literary character rarely used in modern everyday language.

FAQ