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啃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
啃
kěn
to gnaw
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #7833, Very Hard
啃
kěn
to nibble
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #7833, Very Hard
啃
kěn
to bite
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #7833, Very Hard
啃
kěn
to gnaw, to chew, to bite
HSK 7, v, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #7833, Very Hard
kěn(ken3)ken T3
1to gnaw
2to nibble
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March 24, 2026
啃kěn(ken3)
The character 啃 (kěn) primarily means 'to gnaw' or 'to nibble,' often used in the context of animals eating bones or tough food. It can also imply a persistent effort to tackle a difficult problem or task, reflecting a sense of determination and perseverance.
Strokes11Radical口Frequency#7833DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the act of gnawing on bones is often associated with enjoying the texture of the food, reflecting a preference for dishes that require more engagement in eating, like chicken wings or duck necks.
Memory tip
Imagine a dog trying to gnaw on a bone, its teeth scraping against the hard surface. The character 啃 looks like a dog (the left side) chewing (the right side) on something tough. Think of 'kěn' as the sound of the dog gnawing, emphasizing its effort.
Meanings of 啃
kěn(ken3)
1to gnaw
2to nibble
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 啃 means.
About 啃
啃Simplified
11Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7833Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 啃
Podcast: 啃
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AI study notes for 啃
Quick Contrast
啃 (kěn) vs 咬 (yǎo) — use 啃 when emphasizing a persistent or determined effort, while 咬 refers more generally to biting.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 啃 with 咬 (yǎo), which means 'to bite.' While both involve the use of teeth, 啃 typically conveys a more prolonged action of chewing or gnawing. It is often used in informal contexts and can be combined with food items or challenges.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 啃 connects well with other verbs that describe actions related to eating or engaging with tasks, like 吃 (chī - to eat) or 努力 (nǔlì - to strive). Focus on its usage in idiomatic expressions or in descriptions of effort.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 啃 with 咬 (yǎo) when describing eating habits. For example, saying '我在啃苹果' (Wǒ zài kěn píngguǒ - I am gnawing an apple) is incorrect; the correct verb would be 吃 (chī).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 啃
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 啃 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
啃 = 口 + 肯. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 啃
IDS Structure⿰口肯
啃Full character
=
口kou3
left
肯ken3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 啃?
How to say to gnaw in Chinese
“to gnaw” in Chinese is啃kěn
The character 啃 (kěn) primarily means 'to gnaw' or 'to nibble,' often used in the context of animals eating bones or tough food. It can also imply a persistent effort to tackle a difficult problem or task, reflecting a sense of determination and perseverance.
When to use 啃
Be careful not to confuse 啃 with 咬 (yǎo), which means 'to bite.' While both involve the use of teeth, 啃 typically conveys a more prolonged action of chewing or gnawing. It is often used in informal contexts and can be combined with food items or challenges.
啃 or something close to it
啃 (kěn) vs 咬 (yǎo) — use 啃 when emphasizing a persistent or determined effort, while 咬 refers more generally to biting.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 啃 with 咬 (yǎo) when describing eating habits. For example, saying '我在啃苹果' (Wǒ zài kěn píngguǒ - I am gnawing an apple) is incorrect; the correct verb would be 吃 (chī).
Write 啃
啃
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Practice writing 啃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 啃
啃 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我让马低下头____吃春天的青草。
I let the horse drop his head to crop the spring grass.
