Definition
啮 (niè) is a bound form (黏着语素) used in written Chinese compounds meaning 'to gnaw' or 'to nibble', especially by rodents or insects. Unlike the everyday verb 啃 (kěn), 啮 appears only in combination with other characters, such as 啮合 (meshing), 啮齿 (rodent teeth), or 啮咬 (gnawing).
b.f.
(bound form) to gnawto nibble (of rodents, insects, etc.)
Examples
- 啮。Zhè zhǒng lǎoshǔ huì niè yǎo shùgēn.This kind of rat gnaws on tree roots.
- 啮。Lǎoshǔ huì niè shí jiājù.Rats gnaw on furniture.
- 啮。Zhè zhǒng kūnchóng huì niè shí zhuāngjia.This kind of insect gnaws on crops.
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