咬牙

yǎoyá

verb #28,631

Meanings

1 to clench one's teeth
2 to grit one's teeth (enduring hardship)
3 to gnash one's teeth (in anger)

Characters

to bite; to clench

Examples

HSK 7-9

他咬牙坚持跑完了全程马拉松。

Tā yǎoyá jiānchí pǎo wánle quánchéng mǎlāsōng.

He gritted his teeth and persisted to finish the full marathon.

HSK 7-9

她咬牙切齿地望着离去的背影。

Tā yǎoyáqièchǐ de wàng zhe líqù de bèiyǐng.

She watched the departing figure with gnashing teeth.

Tips

usage

咬牙 has two distinct feels: (1) enduring pain or hardship with determination; (2) gnashing teeth in fury. Context usually makes it clear. The fuller idiom 咬牙切齿 always means furious rage.

Stroke Order

咬 yǎo

牙 yá