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噬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
噬shìto bite, to gnaw; to snap atzg, 16 strokes, radical 口, rank #22326, Very Hard
噬shìto devourunknown, 16 strokes, radical 口, rank #22326, Very Hard
shì(shi4)shi T4
  1. 1to bite, to gnaw; to snap at
  2. 2to devour
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March 24, 2026

噬shì(shi4)

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.

Strokes16Radical口Frequency#22326DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese literature, 噬 is often used to describe ferocious or predatory behavior, reflecting traditional views on nature and survival. It can be found in classical texts discussing the relationship between humans and animals.

Memory tip

Imagine a fierce dog that loves to bite into anything, including your favorite snack! The character 噬 looks like a mouth (口) that is eagerly snapping at something, emphasizing the act of biting. To remember the pronunciation 'shì,' think of the sound a dog makes when it snaps at something: 'shh, it’s going to bite!'

Meanings of 噬

shì(shi4)
1to bite, to gnaw; to snap at
2to devour
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 噬

噬Simplified
16Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 噬

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Podcast: 噬

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AI study notes for 噬

Quick Contrast

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.

Usage Notes

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.

HSK Study Tips

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.

Common Mistakes

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.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 噬

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Etymology of 噬

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)筮
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

噬 = 口 + 筮. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 噬

IDS Structure⿰口筮
噬Full character
=
口kou3
left
筮shi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 噬?

How to say to bite, to gnaw; to snap at in Chinese

“to bite, to gnaw; to snap at” in Chinese is噬shì

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

噬

Practice writing 噬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

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)

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1
一条条新路在逐渐吞噬着绿化地带。

yī tiáo tiáo xīn lù zài zhújiàn tūn shì zhe lǜhuà dìdài。

New roads are cutting into the green belt.
2
老鼠将箱角噬去.

lǎoshǔ jiāng xiāng jiǎo shì qù.

The rats have gnawed the corner of the box off.
3
自体吞噬似乎与液泡膜的积极参加有关.

zì tǐ tūn shì sìhū yǔ yè pào mó de jījí cānjiā yǒuguān.

Autophagy, appears to involve an active participation of the vacuolar membranes.

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Word Family of 噬

Words containing this character3
吞噬tūnshìto swallow
噬shìto devour
噬菌体shìjūntǐphage噬菌體
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 噬

What does 吞噬 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 噬

It is pronounced with the fourth tone: shì.

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