区别辨析bite、chew、gnaw与snap

这些动词均含有“咬、啃”之意。

bite : 指用牙齿钳住或切断,或咬一口。

  • He bit into the apple.
    他咬了一口苹果。
  • He bites his fingernails.
    他咬指甲。

chew : 指用牙磨碎,或者为品尝味道而嚼。

  • This meat is difficult to chew.
    这肉很难嚼。
  • You don't chew your food enough - that's why you get indigestion.
    你没把食物嚼烂——这就是你消化不良的原因。
  • Would you like some gum to chew?
    你想吃口香糖吗?
  • She gave the children some sweets to chew (on) during the long car journey.
    在漫长的汽车旅行途中,她给了孩子们些糖果嚼着吃。
  • She sat in the dentist's waiting room, nervously chewing (at) (= biting) her nails.
    她坐在牙医的候诊室里,紧张地咬着指甲。

gnaw : 指连续不断用齿咬。

  • Babies like to gnaw hard objects when they're teething.
    婴儿在长牙时喜欢啃咬硬物。
  • A dog lay under the table, gnawing on a bone.
    一条狗趴在桌下啃骨头。

snap : 指突然猛咬。

  • The guard dog was snarling and snapping behind the fence.
    那条看门狗正在篱笆后面吠咬。
  • The dogs snarled and snapped at our heels.
    几条狗边叫边向着我们的脚后跟咬来。