啃

kěn

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Verb Uncommon

Definitions

1. to gnaw
2. to nibble
3. to bite

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Character focus

Stroke order

11 strokes

Word relationships

Related words

2 items

咬

yǎo

to bite

啃 emphasizes gnawing on something hard, like a bone, while 咬 means general biting

嚼

jiáo

to chew

啃 focuses on biting off or gnawing, while 嚼 means chewing

Usage notes

Collocations

Common collocations: 啃骨头 (gnaw on bones), 啃老 (derogatory term for adults who depend on their parents).

Common mistakes

Do not use 啃 for gentle nibbling like a snack; it implies gnawing on hard objects (e.g., bones).

Example Sentences

1 shown

小狗在啃一根骨头。

The puppy is gnawing on a bone.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 啃

lit. to gnaw a book

(coll.) to live with and depend on one's parents even upon reaching adulthood

啃老族

kěn lǎo zú

(coll.) adults still living with and depending on their parents

嘴啃泥

zuǐ kěn ní

to fall flat on one's face

啃