嚙
bite, gnaw
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
- ゴウ
Kun'yomi
- か.む
- か.じる
Meaning
嚙 centers on using teeth to cut or wear down: biting and gnawing.
Study
Etymology
嚙 combines 口 (mouth) with 齒 (teeth), directly expressing biting or gnawing with the mouth and teeth. It is the older traditional form; the modern simplified form is 噛.
Meaning mnemonic
A mouth 口 full of teeth 齒 is ready to bite and gnaw.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a cow biting and gnawing on grass: cow -> コウ, and the cow's mouth and teeth work together.