咬牙切齿

yǎo yá qiè chǐ

HSK 2.0 Level 6 Rare

Definitions

1. (idiom) to gnash one's teeth; to fume with rage

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 心平气和 xīn píng qì hé 心平气和 xīn píng qì hé tranquil and even-tempered (idiom); calmly and without stress 内心平静，与愤怒相反: tranquil and even-tempered (idiom); calmly and without stress

Related words

2 items

• 怒发冲冠 nù fà chōng guān 怒发冲冠 nù fà chōng guān lit. hair stands up in anger and tips off one's hat (idiom) 形容极度愤怒的外在表现: lit. hair stands up in anger and tips off one's hat (idiom)
• 摩拳擦掌 mó quán cā zhǎng 摩拳擦掌 mó quán cā zhǎng fig. to rub one's fists and wipe one's palms (idiom) 形容准备行动时的激动，不同于愤怒: fig. to rub one's fists and wipe one's palms (idiom)

Synonyms

1 item

• 恨之入骨 hèn zhī rù gǔ 恨之入骨 hèn zhī rù gǔ to hate sb to the bone (idiom) 二者均表极度愤怒或仇恨: to hate sb to the bone (idiom)

Usage notes

Common mistakes

咬牙切齿 is only used for extreme anger, not for determination or effort (unlike 咬紧牙关).

Formality

Common in both spoken and written Chinese, but retains an idiomatic flavor.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他气得 咬牙切齿 。

He was so angry that he gnashed his teeth.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 咬牙切齿

• 切 切 qiē: to cut
• 切 切 qiè: definitely
• 咬 咬 yǎo: to bite
• 牙 牙 yá: tooth
• 切齿 切齿 qiè chǐ: to gnash one's teeth (in anger)
• 咬牙 咬牙 yǎo yá: to clench one's teeth
• 齿 齿 chǐ: tooth