Definition
嚼 (jiáo) is the common, everyday verb for chewing food or gum. It contrasts with 啃 (kěn), which means to gnaw or nibble on something hard (like a bone or corn cob), and with 咀嚼 (jǔ jué), a more formal/literary word that also carries the figurative meaning 'to ponder.'
verb
to chew
Easily confused
- 叫jiàosound-aliketo be called; to call (a name)
- 教jiāosound-aliketo teach
- 脚jiǎosound-alikefoot
- 交jiāosound-aliketo hand in, to deliver, to deliver
- 角jiǎosound-alike(classifier) unit of currency equal to one-tenth of a yuan (10 fen); dime
- 较jiàosound-alike(adverb) relatively, comparatively, rather (modifying an adjective)
- 焦jiāosound-alikeburnt, scorched, charred (resultative complement)
- 搅jiǎosound-aliketo stir, to mix
- 浇jiāosound-aliketo water (plants)
- 缴jiǎosound-aliketo pay (taxes, fees, dues, tuition, etc.)
Examples
- 嚼，。Tā yìbiān jiáo zhe kǒuxiāngtáng, yìbiān kàn bàozhǐ.He chewed gum while reading the newspaper.
- ，嚼。Zhège niúròu tài lǎo le, hěn nán jiáo.This beef is too tough to chew.
- ，嚼。Háizi hái xiǎo, yào jiāo tā xì jiáo màn yàn.The child is still young; we need to teach him to chew carefully and swallow slowly.
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