Definitions

to chew; to masticate
zuǐ popular variant of 嘴[zuǐ]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 咀 is a phono-semantic compound describing the biological action of chewing. Its structure combines the semantic mouth radical 口 (kǒu) on the left, which anchors the meaning to oral functions, with the phonetic component 且 (qiě) on the right, which provides the sound. Etymologically, its core meaning is the physical mastication of food in the mouth before swallowing. Metaphorically, it also describes the intellectual process of carefully pondering or digesting complex texts.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他在嚼一块糖。

Tā zài jǔjué yī kuài táng.

He is chewing a piece of candy.

小狗喜欢嚼玩具。

Xiǎo gǒu xǐhuān jǔjué wánjù.

The puppy likes to chew toys.

嚼食物要细嚼慢咽。

Jǔjué shíwù yào xì jiáo màn yàn.

Chew food slowly and thoroughly.

嚼着美味的牛排。

Tā jǔjué zhe měiwèi de niúpái.

She is chewing the delicious steak.

充分嚼有助于营养吸收。

Chōngfèn jǔjué yǒu zhù yú yíngyǎng xīshōu.

Thorough chewing aids nutrient absorption.

嚼动作能锻炼面部肌肉。

Jǔjué dòngzuò néng duànliàn miànbù jīròu.

The chewing motion can exercise facial muscles.

科学家研究嚼与记忆的关系。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū jǔjué yǔ jìyì de guānxì.

Scientists study the relationship between chewing and memory.

嚼频率可能影响胃部消化效率。

Jǔjué pínlǜ kěnéng yǐngxiǎng wèibù xiāohuà xiàolǜ.

Chewing frequency may affect the efficiency of stomach digestion.