齕
gnaw, bite, nibble
Strokes18
Readings
On'yomi
- コツ
- ゴチ
- ケツ
Kun'yomi
- か.む
Meaning
齕 centers on using the teeth to cut or wear away something small: gnawing, biting, or nibbling.
Study
Etymology
齕 combines 齒 (tooth) with 乞, which likely contributes the sound. The character expresses actions done with the teeth, such as gnawing or biting.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 齒 shows teeth, and the right side 乞 looks like a person bending down to nibble. Picture someone gnawing on a bone with their teeth.
Reading mnemonic
For コツ, imagine the sound of a hard bone being gnawed: kotsu kotsu. The kotsu sound cues コツ while the teeth work on the bone.