咬

See also: 齩 and 𫜪

咬	U+54AC, 咬 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-54AC

← 咫
[U+54AB]

CJK Unified Ideographs

咭 →
[U+54AD]

Translingual

Han character

咬 (Kangxi radical 30, 口+6, 9 strokes, cangjie input 口卜金大 (RYCK), four-corner 6004₈, composition ⿰口交)

References

KangXi: page 186, character 16

Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 3543

Dae Jaweon: page 406, character 1

Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 621, character 2

Unihan data for U+54AC

Chinese

Glyph origin

Characters in the same phonetic series (交) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
烄	keːws, kreːwʔ
礮	*pʰreːws
交	*kreːw
郊	*kreːw
茭	kreːw, kreːwʔ, *ɡreːwʔ
蛟	*kreːw
鮫	*kreːw
鵁	*kreːw
咬	kreːw, ŋɡreːwʔ, *qreːw
鉸	kreːw, kreːwʔ, *kreːws
佼	kreːw, kreːwʔ, *ɡreːwʔ
詨	kreːw, qʰreːws, *ɡreːws
絞	*kreːwʔ
狡	*kreːwʔ
姣	kreːwʔ, ɡreːw
筊	kreːwʔ, ɡreːw
校	kreːws, ɡreːws
珓	*kreːws
跤	*kʰreːw
頝	*kʰreːw
骹	*kʰraːw
齩	*ŋɡreːwʔ
洨	*ɡreːw
胶	*ɡreːw
效	*ɡreːws
効	*ɡreːws
傚	*ɡreːws
皎	*keːwʔ
恔	*keːwʔ
晈	*keːwʔ
窔	*qeːws
駮	*pqreːwɢ

Phono-semantic compound (形聲, OC *kreːw, *ŋɡreːwʔ, *qreːw) : semantic 口 (“mouth”) + phonetic 交 (OC *kreːw).

(oral sex): Ideogrammic compound (會意) : 口 + 交.

Etymology 1

simp. and trad.		咬
alternative forms		齩／咬

Perhaps Sino-Tibetan; compare Chepang ङेव्‍ह्‌सा (ŋewh-, “to nibble”) (Schuessler, 2007). The Min vernacular readings are reminiscent of Proto-Tai *giəwꟲ (“to chew”), whence Thai เคี้ยว (kíao) (ibid.).

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Standard)
(Pinyin): yǎo (yao³)
(Zhuyin): ㄧㄠˇ
(Chengdu, SP): ngao³
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): ngaau⁵
(Taishan, Wiktionary): ngau²
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): ngâu
(Meixian, Guangdong): ngau¹
Min Dong (BUC): gâ / ngāu
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): kā / kǎ / ngáu / gáu
(Teochew, Peng'im): ga⁶
Wu (Wiktionary): ngau (T3); hhiau (T3)

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: yǎo
  - Zhuyin: ㄧㄠˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: yǎo
  - Wade–Giles: yao³
  - Yale: yǎu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: yeau
  - Palladius: яо (jao)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jɑʊ̯²¹⁴/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: ngao³
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: ngao
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋau⁵³/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: ngaau⁵
  - Yale: ngáauh
  - Cantonese Pinyin: ngaau⁵
  - Guangdong Romanization: ngao⁵
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋaːu̯¹³/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: ngau²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ᵑɡau⁵⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ngâu
  - Hakka Romanization System: ngau´
  - Hagfa Pinyim: ngau¹
  - Sinological IPA: /ŋau̯²⁴/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: ngau¹
  - Sinological IPA: /ŋau⁴⁴/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: gâ / ngāu
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɑ²⁴²/, /ŋau³³/

Note:

gâ - vernacular;
ngāu - literary.

Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese, Singapore)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kā
  - Tâi-lô: kā
  - Phofsit Daibuun: ka
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Singapore): /ka²²/
  - IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung): /ka³³/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kǎ
  - Tâi-lô: kǎ
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /ka²²/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: ngáu
  - Tâi-lô: ngáu
  - Phofsit Daibuun: ngao
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei): /ŋãu⁵³/
  - IPA (Kaohsiung): /ŋãu⁴¹/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: gáu
  - Tâi-lô: gáu
  - Phofsit Daibuun: gao
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /ɡau⁵⁵⁴/

Note:

kā/kǎ - vernacular;
ngáu/gáu - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: ga⁶
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kă
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ka³⁵/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: ngau (T3); hhiau (T3)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ŋɔ²³/, /ɦiɔ²³/

Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 咬
Mandarin	Beijing	/iɑu²¹⁴/
	Harbin	/iau²¹³/
	Tianjin	/iɑu¹³/
	Jinan	/iɔ⁵⁵/
	Qingdao	/iɔ⁵⁵/
	Zhengzhou	/iau⁵³/
	Xi'an	/niau⁵³/
	Xining	/ȵiɔ⁵³/
	Yinchuan	/iɔ⁵³/
	Lanzhou	/iɔ⁴⁴²/
	Ürümqi	/ȵiɔ⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/iau⁴²/ /ŋau⁴²/
	Chengdu	/ŋau⁵³/ /ȵiau⁵³/
	Guiyang	/ŋao⁴²/ 老 /niao⁴²/
	Kunming	/iɔ⁵³/
	Nanjing	/iɔo²¹²/
	Hefei	/iɔ²⁴/
Jin	Taiyuan	/niau⁵³/
	Pingyao	/ȵiɔ⁵³/
	Hohhot	/niɔ⁵³/
Wu	Shanghai	/ŋɔ²³/ /ɦiɔ²³/
	Suzhou	/ŋæ³¹/
	Hangzhou	/ʔiɔ⁵³/
	Wenzhou	/ŋuɔ³⁵/
Hui	Shexian	/ŋɔ³⁵/ /ŋo³⁵/ /iɔ³⁵/
Hui	Tunxi	/ŋo²⁴/
Xiang	Changsha	/ʐau⁴¹/ /ŋau⁴¹/
Xiang	Xiangtan	/ŋaɯ⁴²/
Gan	Nanchang	/ŋɑu²¹³/
Hakka	Meixian	/ŋau⁴⁴/
Hakka	Taoyuan	/ŋɑu²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/ŋau²³/
	Nanning	/ŋɛu²⁴/
	Hong Kong	/ŋau¹³/
Min	Xiamen (Min Nan)	/gau⁵³/ /ŋau⁵³/
	Fuzhou (Min Dong)	/ŋau³²/ /kɑ²⁴²/
	Jian'ou (Min Bei)	/kau⁴²/
	Shantou (Min Nan)	/ka³⁵/
	Haikou (Min Nan)	/ka³³/

Old Chinese
(Zhengzhang): /*ŋɡreːwʔ/

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	咬
Reading #	2/3
No.	6320
Phonetic component	交
Rime group	宵
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	齩
Old Chinese	/*ŋɡreːwʔ/
Notes	齩俗或體

Definitions

咬

to bite; to snap at; to gnaw
一條狗咬了他的腿。 [MSC, trad.]
一条狗咬了他的腿。 [MSC, simp.]
Yī tiáo gǒu yǎo le tā de tuǐ. [Pinyin]
A dog snapped at his leg.
他被響尾蛇咬過。／他被响尾蛇咬过。 ― Tā bèi xiǎngwěishé yǎo guò. ― He had been bitten by a rattlesnake.
to incriminate; to accuse
他站在被告席上，什麼都招認，什麼人都咬。 [MSC, trad.]
他站在被告席上，什么都招认，什么人都咬。 [MSC, simp.]
Tā zhàn zài bèigào xí shàng, shénme dōu zhāorèn, shénme rén dōu yǎo. [Pinyin]
He was in the public dock, confessing everything, implicating everybody.
to articulate; to pronounce
這個字他咬得很准 [MSC, trad.]
这个字他咬得很准 [MSC, simp.]
zhè ge zì tā yǎo dé hěn zhǔn [Pinyin]
He can pronounce this word correctly.
to be nitpicking on words
別老咬住我那句話不放 [MSC, trad.]
别老咬住我那句话不放 [MSC, simp.]
bié lǎo yǎo zhù wǒ nà jù huà bù fàng [Pinyin]
Don't keep nagging me about that remark of mine.
(of dog) to bark
(neologism, slang, euphemistic) Alternative form of 口交 (kǒujiāo, “oral sex; to perform oral sex on”).

Compounds

一口咬定 (yīkǒuyǎodìng)
一口咬死
反咬
咬人狗
咬住
咬合 (yǎohé)
咬合不正
咬嘴
咬嚼 (yǎojué)
咬字 (yǎozì)
咬定
咬定牙根
咬手
咬文嚼字 (yǎowénjiáozì)
咬春
咬牙 (yǎoyá)
咬破

咬秋
咬群
咬耳仔
咬耳朵 (yǎo ěrduo)
咬舌
咬舌子 (yǎoshézi)
咬舌根
咬菜根
啖指咬舌
嚼咬人
弄狗相咬
怒目咬牙 (nùmù yǎoyá)
毒咬
炒咬
狗咬狗 (gǒuyǎogǒu)
切齒咬牙／切齿咬牙

咬人貓／咬人猫
咬合調整／咬合调整
咬字兒／咬字儿
咬字眼兒／咬字眼儿
咬定牙關／咬定牙关
咬斷鐵／咬断铁
咬牙切齒／咬牙切齿 (yǎoyáqièchǐ)
咬緊／咬紧
咬緊牙關／咬紧牙关
咬舌兒／咬舌儿 (yǎoshér)
咬舌頭／咬舌头
咬薑呷醋／咬姜呷醋 (yǎojiāngxiácù)
咬釘嚼鐵／咬钉嚼铁
咬頭／咬头
老咬蟲／老咬虫
虎咬豬／虎咬猪 (hǔyǎozhū)

Etymology 2

simp. and trad.		咬

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): jiāo (jiao¹)
(Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄠ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: jiāo
  - Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄠ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: jiao
  - Wade–Giles: chiao¹
  - Yale: jyāu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jiau
  - Palladius: цзяо (czjao)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕjɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

Middle Chinese: /kˠau/

Rime
Character	咬
Reading #	1/2
Initial (聲)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	肴 (90)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	II
Fanqie	古肴切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/kˠau/
Pan Wuyun	/kᵚau/
Shao Rongfen	/kau/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/kaɨw/
Li Rong	/kau/
Wang Li	/kau/
Bernard Karlgren	/kau/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	jiāo
Expected Cantonese Reflex	gaau¹

Old Chinese
(Zhengzhang): /*kreːw/

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	咬
Reading #	1/3
No.	6302
Phonetic component	交
Rime group	宵
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	交
Old Chinese	/*kreːw/

Definitions

咬

Only used in 咬咬.

Etymology 3

simp. and trad.		咬

Pronunciation

Mandarin
(Pinyin): yāo (yao¹)
(Zhuyin): ㄧㄠ

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: yāo
  - Zhuyin: ㄧㄠ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: yao
  - Wade–Giles: yao¹
  - Yale: yāu
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: iau
  - Palladius: яо (jao)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

Middle Chinese: /ʔˠau/

Rime
Character	咬
Reading #	2/2
Initial (聲)	影 (34)
Final (韻)	肴 (90)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	II
Fanqie	於交切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/ʔˠau/
Pan Wuyun	/ʔᵚau/
Shao Rongfen	/ʔau/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/ʔaɨw/
Li Rong	/ʔau/
Wang Li	/au/
Bernard Karlgren	/ʔau/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	yāo
Expected Cantonese Reflex	aau¹

Old Chinese
(Zhengzhang): /*qreːw/

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	咬
Reading #	3/3
No.	6334
Phonetic component	交
Rime group	宵
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	䫜
Old Chinese	/*qreːw/

Definitions

咬

Only used in 咬哇 and 哇咬.

References

“咬”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
“Entry #4789”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.

Japanese

Kanji

咬

(uncommon “Hyōgai” kanji)

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Readings

Go-on: きょう (kyō)^{←けう (keu, historical)}; ぎょう (gyō)^{←げう (geu, historical)}
Kan-on: こう (kō)^{←かう (kau, historical)}; ごう (gō)^{←がう (gau, historical)}
Kun: かむ (kamu, 咬む)

Korean

Hanja

咬 • (gyo) (hangeul 교, revised gyo, McCune–Reischauer kyo, Yale kyo)

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Vietnamese

Han character

咬: Hán Nôm readings: giảo, rao

This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.