Meanings of 噬
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About 噬
Podcast: 噬
Podcast: 噬
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AI Study Notes for 噬
噬 (shì) vs 咬 (yǎo) — use 噬 for more aggressive or forceful biting, while 咬 is more general and can refer to any biting action.
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 噬, as it uses the fourth tone (shì), which can be easily confused with other words. This character is more formal and is rarely used in everyday conversations; it might appear in literary or specialized contexts. Common collocations might involve animals or food.
Although 噬 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be a useful addition for learners at a higher level. Students should focus on its usage in literature or biology-related texts, where the act of biting or devouring is often discussed.
Learners often confuse 噬 with the more common character 咬 (yǎo), which also means 'to bite' but is used more frequently in everyday contexts. For example, saying '我噬苹果' (wǒ shì píngguǒ) instead of '我咬苹果' (wǒ yǎo píngguǒ) is incorrect; use 咬 for casual biting actions.
Pronunciation of 噬
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Etymology of 噬
mouth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 噬
- 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half筮 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaymouth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 噬? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 噬?
Decomposition of 噬
Identify the Components
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How to say to bite, to gnaw; to snap at in Chinese
“to bite, to gnaw; to snap at” in Chinese is噬
The character 噬 (shì) means 'to bite' or 'to gnaw,' and it can also imply actions like snapping at or devouring something. It is commonly used in contexts related to animals or aggressive actions, and it carries a strong connotation of forceful biting or consuming.
When to use 噬
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 噬, as it uses the fourth tone (shì), which can be easily confused with other words. This character is more formal and is rarely used in everyday conversations; it might appear in literary or specialized contexts. Common collocations might involve animals or food.
噬 or something close to it
噬 (shì) vs 咬 (yǎo) — use 噬 for more aggressive or forceful biting, while 咬 is more general and can refer to any biting action.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 噬 with the more common character 咬 (yǎo), which also means 'to bite' but is used more frequently in everyday contexts. For example, saying '我噬苹果' (wǒ shì píngguǒ) instead of '我咬苹果' (wǒ yǎo píngguǒ) is incorrect; use 咬 for casual biting actions.
Write 噬
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Practice writing 噬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 噬
噬 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Complete the Sentence
一条条新路在逐渐吞____着绿化地带。
New roads are cutting into the green belt.
Example Sentences for 噬 (3)
Word Family of 噬
Compound Meaning
What does 吞噬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 噬
It is pronounced with the fourth tone: shì.
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