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Kotomora

嚼

bite

Strokes21

Readings

On'yomi

  • シャク

Kun'yomi

  • か.む

Meaning

嚼 centers on the physical act of biting or chewing with the mouth.

Most common words using 嚼

  • 咀嚼そしゃく

    chewing; mastication

  • 咀嚼力そしゃくりょく

    chewing power; chewing strength; bite strength; masticatory strength; strength of mastication

  • 咀嚼筋そしゃくきん

    muscle of mastication

  • 咀嚼運動そしゃくうんどう

    mastication

  • 日本咀嚼学会にっぽんそしゃくがっかい

    Japanese Society for Mastication Science and Health Promotion

Explore all words using 嚼 →

Study

Etymology

嚼 combines 口 (mouth) with 爵, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to a drinking vessel, but the exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The mouth 口 beside 爵 suggests a mouth working on something tough, like biting into a ceremonial vessel.

Reading mnemonic

For シャク, imagine biting into a shackle to break free: shack -> シャク, and your mouth 口 is doing the biting.