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Kotomora

齧

gnaw, nibble, munch, have a smattering of

Strokes21

Readings

On'yomi

  • ゲツ
  • ケツ

Kun'yomi

  • かじ.る
  • か.む

Meaning

齧 centers on biting or chewing in small, repeated motions: gnawing, nibbling, or munching. The sense of having a smattering of something extends this idea to taking in only small bits of knowledge.

Most common words using 齧

  • 齧るかじる
    N2

    to gnaw; to nibble; to bite; to munch; to crunch

  • 齧り付くかぶりつく

    to bite into; to sink one's teeth into

  • 脛を齧るすねをかじる

    to depend on someone else's (financial) support (usu. one's parents'); to gnaw on (someone's) shin

  • 食い齧るくいかじる

    to nibble at

  • 齧歯げっし

    rodent

  • 齧歯動物げっしどうぶつ

    gnawing animal

Explore all words using 齧 →

Study

Etymology

齧 combines 齒 (teeth) with 㓞, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest cutting or engraving. The character expresses gnawing or biting with the teeth.

Meaning mnemonic

The bottom is 齒 (teeth), and the top 㓞 looks like a tool cutting into something. Picture teeth working like a small chisel, nibbling away bit by bit.

Reading mnemonic

For ゲツ, imagine a mouse getting its teeth into a piece of cheese and gnawing: gets -> ゲツ, as the mouse gets to nibbling.