噬

shì

口 + 筮

Definitions

shì to devour; to bite

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: 口 Phonetic: 筮

About

噬 is a phono-semantic compound: the mouth radical 口 on the left immediately places it among characters for oral actions like eating, biting, or using the jaw. The phonetic component on the right, 筮, determines its pronunciation and historically references divination practices. Its primary meaning is the aggressive physical act of biting, gnawing, or entirely devouring, often carrying violent or predatory connotations. The meaning frequently extends beyond literal food consumption to describe the destructive engulfing, swallowing up, or ruthless consumption of resources, territory, or abstract concepts through overwhelming force or aggressive encroachment.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

野兽噬咬猎物。

Yěshòu shì yǎo lièwù.

The wild beast bites its prey.

这种病毒会噬食人体细胞。

Zhè zhǒng bìngdú huì shì shí réntǐ xìbāo.

This virus devours human cells.

孤独感正在慢慢吞噬他的内心。

Gūdú gǎn zhèngzài mànmàn tūnshì tā de nèixīn.

A sense of loneliness is slowly consuming his heart.

悔恨噬咬着他的灵魂，让他无法安宁。

Huǐhèn shì yǎozhe tā de línghún, ràng tā wúfǎ ānníng.

Remorse gnawed at his soul, leaving him no peace.

贪婪的资本家噬尽工人的血汗。

Tānlán de zīběnjiā shì jìn gōngrén de xuèhàn.

The greedy capitalists devoured the workers' blood and sweat.

旧制度正被历史的浪潮所吞噬。

Jiù zhìdù zhèng bèi lìshǐ de làngcháo suǒ tūnshì.

The old system is being engulfed by the tide of history.

内心的恐惧像野兽一样噬咬着她。

Nèixīn de kǒngjù xiàng yěshòu yíyàng shì yǎozhe tā.

The fear within her gnawed at her like a wild beast.

这种腐蚀性液体会噬穿金属薄板。

Zhè zhǒng fǔshíxìng yètǐ huì shì chuān jīnshǔ báobǎn.

This corrosive liquid can eat through thin metal sheets.

Related Characters

Component: 口

Component: 筮

噬