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Word 2678 of 2920

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咥える

くわえる

to hold in one's mouth, to hold between the lips or teeth

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 犬がボールを咥えて走ってきた。

    いぬがボールをくわえてはしってきた。

    The dog came running with a ball in its mouth.

  2. 彼はパイプを咥えたまま話した。

    かれはパイプをくわえたままはなした。

    He spoke with a pipe in his mouth.

  3. 赤ちゃんが指を咥えて眠っている。

    あかちゃんがゆびをくわえてねむっている。

    The baby is asleep with a finger in its mouth.

Common patterns

タバコを咥える
to have a cigarette in one's mouth
指を咥える
to suck one's finger; to look on enviously
口に咥える
to hold in the mouth

Memory tip

This is holding something between lips or teeth without eating it. 指を咥えて見ている is a set phrase for watching enviously while unable to do anything. Keep it apart from the homophone 加える, to add.

Kanji in this word

  • 咥Not in the N5–N1 kanji lists

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5

What does 咥える mean?