啮 meaning and stroke order
To bite, to gnaw
How to write 啮, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 4
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- 11
Meaning of 啮
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to gnaw
- to erode
- variant of 嚙|啮[nie4]
How 啮 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Mouth.
口 gives the meaning and 齿 hints at the sound.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 啮
A mouth 口 next to teeth 齿: when your mouth puts its teeth to work, you gnaw. Picture a mouse with its 口 and 齿 working on a piece of wood.
啮 (niè) is a formal or written word. You will meet it most in 啮齿动物 (nièchǐdòngwù), rodent, and in literary phrases about gnawing or wearing something away. Example: 老鼠是啮齿动物。(Lǎoshǔ shì nièchǐ dòngwù.) Mice are rodents.
Common mistake: Learners often write 啮 as just 齿 or confuse it with 咬 (yǎo). In everyday speech, say 咬 for bite, and keep 啮 for written or scientific contexts like 啮齿动物.
Common words with 啮
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 啮齿动物 | nièchǐdòngwù | rodent |
Questions about 啮
How many strokes are in 啮?
啮 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 啮 mean?
啮 (niè) means to bite, to gnaw. A common word with it is 啮齿动物 (nièchǐdòngwù), meaning "rodent".
How do you pronounce 啮?
啮 is pronounced niè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 啮?
The radical of 啮 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 啮 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 啮?
The traditional form of 啮 is 嚙, 囓 and 齧. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 啮 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 啮 and 咬?
咬 (yǎo) is the normal spoken word for bite. 啮 (niè) means to gnaw, often with repeated small bites. It sounds literary or technical.
Can 啮 mean something other than biting?
Yes. It can also mean to erode or wear away, as when water or time slowly eats into something. This use appears mainly in written Chinese.