1.
to gnaw, to nibble, to bite
To bite or chew repeatedly at something with the front teeth.
りんごを齧る。
To bite into an apple.
ネズミが電線を齧った。
A mouse gnawed on the electrical wire.
犬が骨を齧っている。
The dog is gnawing on a bone.
2.
to dabble in, to have superficial knowledge
To have only partial or superficial knowledge of something (figurative usage).
学生時代に哲学を齧った。
I dabbled in philosophy during my student days.
英語を少し齧ったことがある。
I've dabbled a little in English.
プログラミングを齧った程度で、詳しくはない。
I've only dabbled in programming; I'm not knowledgeable about it.
CONJUGATION:
- 齧らない (negative)
- 齧ります (polite)
- 齧って (te-form)
- 齧った (past)
USAGE NOTES:
- Sense 2 is often used with studies or skills: 英語を齧る (to have a smattering of English).
- Often written in hiragana.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 〜を齧る (to nibble on ~)
- 爪を齧る (to bite one's nails)