Japanese word

噛み切る

Pronunciation

Romajikamikiru

Meaning

  • verbbite off

Example

犬がロープを噛み切ります。inu ga rō pu o ka mi ki ri ma su

The dog bites through the rope.

Illustration for 噛み切る (bite off)

More examples

この肉は柔らかいので、簡単に噛み切れます。ko no niku wa yawa ra ka i no de kan tan ni ka mi ki re ma su

This meat is tender, so I can bite through it easily.

Core concept

Describes separating something by closing the teeth on it, often to remove a piece or cut through a tough part.

Common phrases

  • 肉を噛み切るniku o ka mi ki ru

    bite through meat

  • パンを噛み切るpa n o ka mi ki ru

    bite off a piece of bread

  • 皮を噛み切るkawa o ka mi ki ru

    bite through the skin

Similar words

食いちぎるkuichigiru: To separate and remove a piece by tearing it with the teeth.
噛み取るkamitoru: To take a piece away by biting through the material with the teeth.

Definition in Japanese

歯でかんで物を切り離す。ha de ka n de mono o ki ri hana su

Word origin

The native Japanese compound 噛み切る (kamikiru) combines 噛み (kami, "biting"), the continuative form of 噛む (kamu, "bite"), with 切る (kiru, "cut").

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, this verb can describe biting through a string or rope as well as taking a piece from food, so its use extends beyond eating.

Other meanings

  • bite throughverb
  • gnaw throughverb

Word lists with this word