About
Composed of the mouth radical 口 and the phonetic element 交, the character 咬 has historically functioned as a phono-semantic compound whose structure directly implies its association with oral actions, with the phonetic component suggesting its pronunciation while the radical anchors it in the realm of mouth-related functions. Its core meaning of biting or gnawing has been maintained throughout its usage, yet its semantic range has broadened to include derived meanings such as the act of barking in animals, which mimics a biting motion, and metaphorical uses denoting pedantic attention to textual details, as exemplified in the compound phrase "咬文嚼字". The character's form has not undergone any significant alteration, preserving its original compositional logic while adapting to evolving linguistic contexts where it continues to represent both literal and figurative instances of clamping or gripping with the mouth.
Example Sentences Hide
狗咬了我的手。
苹果被咬了一口。
他咬牙坚持完成了比赛。
蚊子咬得我睡不着觉。
这只小狗喜欢咬玩具。
被毒蛇咬伤需要立刻就医。
他说话总是喜欢咬文嚼字。
面对困难，我们必须咬紧牙关，绝不放弃。