齧 (niè) - To gnaw & to bite

齧Tone 4

niè ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

念柠

齧 · niè

To gnaw;

to bite;

to nibble;

to erode;

to wear away;

used metaphorically for persistent effort or gradual erosion.

To gnawto biteto nibble

Usage highlights

Gnaw and biteErode and wear awayGnaw throughBite markMouse gnawingInsect boring

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 补— to repair
  • 建— to build

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The mouse gnawed on the wood (老鼠齧木头).
  • Constant dripping wears away the stone (滴水齧石).
  • He nibbled on the hard bread (他齧着硬面包).
  • The river erodes the riverbank over time (河流齧蚀河岸).

Collocations

  • Gnaw and bite(齧咬)
  • Erode and wear away(齧蚀)
  • Gnaw through(齧穿)
  • Bite mark(齧痕)
  • Mouse gnawing(鼠齧)
  • Insect boring(虫齧)

Idioms

  • Gnawing at one's heart(齧心之痛)
  • Gnawing through difficulties(齧雪吞毡)
  • Persistent as gnawing(齧而不舍)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character appears in classical texts describing animals gnawing or persistent erosion.
  • Used metaphorically in Chinese to describe steadfast, persistent effort against obstacles.
  • Sometimes associated with the concept of gradual, inevitable change through small, repeated actions.

FAQ