噛かみ締しめる

か

み

し

め

る

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, transitive verb

chew thoroughly; bite down on

Physical action of chewing something firmly or biting something (like one's lip) with force.

よく噛かみ締しめて食たべると、消しょう化かにいい。
Chewing your food thoroughly is good for digestion.
悔くやしさで唇くちびるを噛かみ締しめた。
I bit my lip in frustration.

2

ichidan verb, transitive verb

reflect deeply on; savor; digest mentally

Metaphorical use: to fully appreciate or internalize an experience, emotion, or meaning, often with a sense of deep reflection.

彼かれの言こと葉ばの重おもみを噛かみ締しめた。
I reflected deeply on the weight of his words.
勝しょう利りの喜よろこびを噛かみ締しめている。
I am savoring the joy of victory.

Written forms

噛かみ締しめるUsage7%
Standard kanji spelling.
かみしめるUsage67%
噛かみしめるUsage19%
Common variant with しめる in kana.
かみ締しめるUsage7%
Variant with かみ in kana.
噛かみ締しめる
Abbreviated kanji form; less common.

Kanji

噛chew, bite, gnaw
締tighten, tie, shut

Similar words

味あじわう
味わう focuses on tasting or experiencing something, while 噛み締める emphasizes deep, reflective appreciation or internalization.
反はん省せいする
反省する means to reflect on one's own actions, often with regret; 噛み締める is broader, encompassing savoring or deeply understanding any experience.

Etymology

Compound of 噛み (kami, 'chewing', continuative form of 噛む) and 締める (shimeru, 'to tighten'). The literal meaning 'to chew firmly' extended metaphorically to 'to reflect deeply on' or 'to savor'.