Japanese word

かじる

Pronunciation

Romajikajiru

Meaning

  • verbbite

Example

私はりんごをかじります。watashi wa ri n go o ka ji ri ma su

I bite into an apple.

Illustration for かじる (bite)

More examples

犬が骨をかじっています。inu ga hone o ka ji tte i ma su

The dog is gnawing on a bone.

Core concept

Expresses the act of breaking off and eating a small part of something with the teeth.

Common phrases

  • 爪をかじるtsume o ka ji ru

    bite one's nails

  • 骨をかじるhone o ka ji ru

    gnaw on a bone

  • パンをかじるpa n o ka ji ru

    bite into bread

Similar words

噛むkamu: To use the teeth to break down food or another object by repeated pressure.
噛み切るkamikiru: To bite through something and detach one part from another.
食いちぎるkuichigiru: To pull away and eat a piece of something using the teeth.

Definition in Japanese

食べ物などに歯を当て、少しずつ食い取る。ta be mono na do ni ha o a te suko shi zu tsu ku i to ru

Word origin

かじる (kajiru) belongs to the native Japanese vocabulary, and no reliable analysis of its constituent parts or original derivation has been established.

Usage tips

  • Japanese also uses かじる (kajiru) in 知識をかじる (chishiki o kajiru), where taking a small amount becomes a metaphor for learning a little about a field.

Other meanings

  • gnawverb
  • nibbleverb

Related words

  • かじり方kajirikataway of bitingnoun

Word lists with this word