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齧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
齧nièto bite, to gnaw; to erode, to wear downzg, 21 strokes, radical 齒
齧nièsurname Nieunknown, 21 strokes, radical 齒
niè(Nie4)nie T4
  1. 1to bite, to gnaw; to erode, to wear down
Also a Chinese surname, Nie — see the Surname Dictionary
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March 24, 2026

齧niè(Nie4)

The character 齧 (niè) primarily means 'to bite' or 'to gnaw,' typically referring to the action of biting something repeatedly or persistently. It can also convey the idea of eroding or wearing down something over time. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation but can appear in literary contexts or when discussing animals or processes of erosion.

Strokes21Radical齒
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, the act of gnawing can relate to certain animals, such as the mouse or rat, which are often portrayed in folklore. The character's association with teeth highlights the importance of oral health in Chinese medicine and culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a mouse 'gnawing' on a piece of cheese. The character 齧 has the radical 齒 (tooth), which relates to biting, and the phonetic component 捏 (to pinch), suggesting a persistent action. Picture the mouse pinching away at its cheese, leaving a small pile of crumbs behind, representing the erosion aspect.

Meanings of 齧

niè(Nie4)
1to bite, to gnaw; to erode, to wear down
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 齧

齧Simplified
21Strokes
齒Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 齧

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Podcast: 齧

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AI study notes for 齧

Quick Contrast

咬 (yǎo) - use 齧 when emphasizing the repetitive or persistent action of biting, while 咬 is more general for the act of biting without that nuance.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 齧 with 咬 (yǎo), which also means 'to bite' but implies a stronger or more forceful action. 齧 is more about the act of gnawing or nibbling. Pay attention to the context in which you use 齧, as it is less common in everyday language and may come across as formal or literary.

HSK Study Tips

Although 齧 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to the theme of eating and biting found in earlier levels. Focus on differentiating it from similar words like 咬 (yǎo) and 嚼 (jiáo), which also deal with biting or chewing but in different contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 齧 when referring to a strong bite, confusing it with 咬. For example, saying '我齧了苹果' (I gnawed the apple) instead of '我咬了苹果' (I bit the apple) is incorrect. Use 齧 in contexts that imply a softer, prolonged action.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 齧

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Etymology of 齧

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

teeth

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

Origin

齧 = 齒 + 㓞. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 齧

IDS Structure⿱㓞齒
齧Full character
=
㓞qia4
top
齒chi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 齧?

How to say to bite, to gnaw; to erode, to wear down in Chinese

“to bite, to gnaw; to erode, to wear down” in Chinese is齧niè

The character 齧 (niè) primarily means 'to bite' or 'to gnaw,' typically referring to the action of biting something repeatedly or persistently. It can also convey the idea of eroding or wearing down something over time. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation but can appear in literary contexts or when discussing animals or processes of erosion.

When to use 齧

Learners often confuse 齧 with 咬 (yǎo), which also means 'to bite' but implies a stronger or more forceful action. 齧 is more about the act of gnawing or nibbling. Pay attention to the context in which you use 齧, as it is less common in everyday language and may come across as formal or literary.

齧 or something close to it

咬 (yǎo) - use 齧 when emphasizing the repetitive or persistent action of biting, while 咬 is more general for the act of biting without that nuance.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 齧 when referring to a strong bite, confusing it with 咬. For example, saying '我齧了苹果' (I gnawed the apple) instead of '我咬了苹果' (I bit the apple) is incorrect. Use 齧 in contexts that imply a softer, prolonged action.

Write 齧

齧

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Word Family of 齧

Words containing this character1
齧nièsurname Nie

Frequently asked questions about 齧

齧 (niè) implies a gentle or persistent gnawing action, while 咬 (yǎo) suggests a stronger bite.

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