啃

kěn

HSK 7–9

Meaning

用牙齿一点一点地咬下来。

to gnaw; to nibble; to bite.

常用于描述用牙齿剥取食物，如啃骨头、啃玉米；也比喻刻苦钻研或攻克难关，如啃书本、啃硬骨头。

Often used to describe gnawing food off a bone or cob; also figuratively to mean working hard at studying or overcoming a tough problem.

1 他一边看电视一边啃玉米。 (He is gnawing on a corncob while watching TV.)
2 这只狗在啃骨头。 (This dog is gnawing on a bone.)
3 为了考试，他每天都在啃书本。 (For the exam, he hits the books every day.)
4 这个项目是个硬骨头，我们必须慢慢啃。 (This project is a tough nut to crack; we have to tackle it gradually.)
5 孩子小口小口地啃着苹果。 (The child is nibbling on an apple.)

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