Translation guide
The English word "bite" covers many actions and meanings. This guide breaks them down into practical categories for learners, from physically biting to idiomatic expressions.
The physical action of using teeth to cut, grip, or wound something.
General verb for biting, chewing, or gnawing. Can be used for people, animals, or objects.
犬が私の手を噛んだ。
The dog bit my hand.
He bit his lip.
To bite into or sink one's teeth into. Emphasizes the action of latching on, often used for animals or aggressive biting.
The dog suddenly bit me (and held on).
To bite into, often used for fish taking bait or a person latching onto an idea. More metaphorical or specific.
The fish bit the bait.
When an insect or snake pierces the skin, often with venom.
Used for insects (mosquitoes, bees) and sometimes snakes. Note: this verb also means 'to stab'.
I got bitten by a mosquito.
Be careful not to get stung by a bee.
Sometimes used for snakes or spiders that actually bite with fangs, but 刺す is more common for insects.
When a fish takes the hook, or metaphorically when someone falls for a trick or offer.
Literally 'bite the bait'. Used for fish and figuratively for people taking an offer or falling for a trick.
The fish aren't biting.
He bit on that story (fell for it / showed interest).
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be caught' (fish). Often used in fishing contexts instead of 'bite'.
The fish are biting well today.
To endure or accept a difficult situation, often expressed with 'bite the bullet'.
Describing a sharp, pungent, or spicy sensation, or cold wind that 'bites'.
Describes a sharp, spicy, or pungent taste that stings the tongue. Often used for wasabi, ginger, etc.
This curry has a nice bite to it.
Noun meaning 'spiciness' or 'pungency'. Can be used to describe the 'bite' of food.
Literally 'cold that cuts the body'. Used for a biting cold wind.
There's a biting cold outside.
When a policy, sanction, or criticism starts to have a noticeable effect.
To respond angrily or sharply to someone, often with 'bite back' or 'bite someone's head off'.
A small mouthful or a quick snack, as in 'a bite to eat'.
English uses 'bite' for both teeth and insect stings, but Japanese distinguishes them. Use 刺す (さす) for mosquitoes, bees, etc. Using 噛む for a mosquito bite sounds like the mosquito chewed on you.
Don't say 'bitten by a mosquito' with 噛む; use 刺す.
噛む (かむ) is for biting with teeth (dogs, snakes, people). 刺す (さす) is for piercing with a sharp point (insects, needles, thorns). For snakes, both can be used depending on the image: 噛む for a bite that clamps, 刺す for fangs injecting venom.
Don't bite your nails.
I bit my tongue.
The fish aren't biting today.
Often expressed as 'not catching' rather than 'not biting'.
I was bitten by a snake.
He bit the bullet and underwent surgery.
このソースは辛みが強い。
This sauce has a strong bite.