食くい齧かじる

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

nibble at; gnaw

Literally to bite off small pieces, often used for animals or casual eating.

• ネズミがチーズを食くい齧かじっている。

  A mouse is nibbling at the cheese.

• 彼かれはパンの耳みみを食くい齧かじりながら歩あるいていた。

  He was walking while gnawing on the crust of the bread.

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

have a smattering of knowledge; dabble in

Metaphorical use: to have only superficial or partial knowledge of a subject, like nibbling at it.

• 彼かれは経けい済ざい学がくを食くい齧かじっただけの素人しろうとだ。

  He's just an amateur who has only a smattering of economics.

• いろんな分ぶん野やを食くい齧かじるより、一ひとつを深ふかく学まなびなさい。

  Instead of dabbling in many fields, learn one deeply.