咬
bite, gnaw, chew, gear with, dash against
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
- ヨウ
Kun'yomi
- か.む
Meaning
咬 centers on the action of teeth closing on something: biting, gnawing, or chewing. The extended senses of gears meshing or dashing against something come from the same idea of forceful, repeated contact.
Most common words using 咬
- 咬合こうごう
occlusion
- 咬傷こうしょう
bite wound; bite
- 不正咬合ふせいこうごう
malocclusion
- 咬創こうそう
bite wound; bite
- 咬合力こうごうりょく
occlusal force; biting force; bite force
- 咬合器こうごうき
articulator
- 咬合面こうごうめん
masticating surface; occlusal surface
- 咬痙こうけい
lockjaw; trismus
- 咬筋こうきん
masseter muscle
- 咬耗こうもう
attrition; occlusal wear
- 咬耗症こうもうしょう
attrition; occlusal wear
- 咬頭こうとう
cusp (of a tooth)
- 開咬かいこう
open bite; apertognathia
- 鼠咬症そこうしょう
ratbite disease
Study
Etymology
咬 combines 口 (mouth) with 交, which likely contributes the sound and suggests the action of teeth meeting or crossing. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A mouth 口 beside 交, which looks like crossed lines, suggests teeth coming together to bite or gnaw.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a dog biting a bone with a loud 'koh!' sound: koh -> コウ, and the mouth 口 clamps down.