Japanese word

噛む

Pronunciation

Romajikamu

Meaning

  • verbbite

Example

子どもがりんごを噛みます。ko do mo ga ri n go o ka mi ma su

The child bites an apple.

Illustration for 噛む (bite)

More examples

固いパンは、よく噛んで食べます。kata i pa n wa yo ku ka n de ta be ma su

I chew tough bread well before I eat it.

Core concept

It centers on gripping something with the teeth, either to leave a bite mark or to work food into smaller pieces.

Common phrases

  • 指を噛むyubi o ka mu

    bite a finger

  • 犬に噛まれるinu ni ka ma re ru

    be bitten by a dog

  • 食べ物を噛むta be mono o ka mu

    chew food

Similar words

かじるkajiru: To bite into something repeatedly or nibble at it, often taking small pieces.
噛み付くkamitsuku: To seize a person or animal with the teeth, often in a sudden or forceful action.

Definition in Japanese

歯で物を挟み、傷をつけたり食べ物を砕いたりすること。ha de mono o hasa mi kizu o tsu ke ta ri ta be mono o kuda i ta ri su ru ko to

Word origin

噛む (kamu) is a native Japanese verb inherited from earlier Japanese, where kamu described using the teeth on food or another object.

Usage tips

  • Japanese uses 噛む (kamu) for both the quick action of biting and the repeated action of chewing, unlike English, which usually separates these meanings.

Other meanings

  • chewverb

Related words

  • 噛み方kamikataway of bitingnoun

Word lists with this word