Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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#7833DifficultyHard
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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 啃 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 啃 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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
Complete the Sentence
我让马低下头____吃春天的青草。
I let the horse drop his head to crop the spring grass.
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.
Word Family of 啃
Words Containing This Character2
啃kěnto gnaw
嘴啃泥to fall flat on one's face
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 啃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 啃
You might hear 啃骨头 (kěn gǔtóu), meaning 'to gnaw on bones,' often referring to eating meat with bones.
啃 is typically used in informal contexts, particularly in spoken language or casual writing.
Yes, it can describe tackling a difficult problem, as in 啃难题 (kěn nántí), meaning 'to gnaw at a difficult problem.'
