噛(か)む

かむ
verb (godan)
to bite, to chew
1. to bite
To use teeth to cut into or grip something.
犬(いぬ)に噛(か)まれた。
I was bitten by a dog.
Passive form 噛(か)まれる
唇(くちびる)を噛(か)んだ。
I bit my lip.
子供(こども)が友達(ともだち)の腕(うで)を噛(か)んでしまった。
The child bit their friend's arm.
2. to chew
To grind food with teeth before swallowing.
ガムを噛(か)む。
Chew gum.
よく噛(か)んで食(た)べてください。
Please chew well before eating.
Common advice about eating
肉(にく)が硬(かた)くて噛(か)みにくい。
The meat is tough and hard to chew.

TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive). Pattern: Xを噛(か)む (bite/chew X). No intransitive pair.

ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing action. 噛(か)んでいる = 'is biting/chewing.'

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • ガムを噛(か)む (chew gum)
  • よく噛(か)む (chew well)
  • 指(ゆび)を噛(か)む (bite one's finger)
  • 噛(か)みつく (to bite into, attack—compound)
  • 噛(か)み切(き)る (to bite off)

KANJI NOTE: Often written in hiragana (かむ) in everyday contexts. The kanji 噛(か)む is more formal.

IDIOMS:

  • 舌(した)を噛(か)む (bite one's tongue; also: stumble over words)
  • 歯(は)を食(く)いしばる (grit one's teeth—different expression for similar context)
general
Added 2026.1.8 21:09 · Revised 2026.3.7 9:53
01000/01205_kamu