gặm

Thân thiện

Con chó đang gặm một khúc xương lớn trong sân.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To gnaw: To bite or chew on something persistently, often making small, repeated bites, typically done by animals with their teeth.
   • To nibble: To take small, gentle bites, often in a tentative or slow manner.
   • To graze: (Specifically for herbivores) To eat grass or other low-growing plants by biting them off close to the ground.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Con mèo gặm sợi dây. (The cat gnawed on the string.)
  • Chuột gặm củ khoai. (The rat nibbled on the sweet potato.)
  • Trâu gặm cỏ trên cánh đồng. (The buffalo grazed on grass in the field.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "gặm" often implies a slow, continuous, and sometimes destructive action focused on one object or area.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe a persistent, nagging thought or feeling.
  • Nỗi lo âu gặm nhấm tâm trí anh ấy. (The anxiety gnawed at his mind.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gặm nhấm (v): To gnaw persistently; often used for rodents (literally "to gnaw-gnaw") and figuratively for lingering thoughts.
  • Những lo lắng cứ gặm nhấm cô ấy. (The worries kept gnawing at her.)

Synonyms

• Gnaw: To bite or chew persistently.
• Nibble: To bite gently or take small bites.
• Graze: To eat grass in a field.

Related Idioms

• Gặm xương: Literally "to gnaw a bone"; to work on a difficult, time-consuming, or tedious task for little reward.
  • Dự án này khó như gặm xương vậy. (This project is as tough as gnawing on a bone.)
• Còn răng răng nhai, hết răng lợi gặm: A proverb meaning "When you have teeth, you chew; when you have no teeth, you gnaw with your gums." It signifies persistence and making do with what you have.

Học thuật

verb

1. to gnaw; to nibble
   • gặm cỏ
     to graze