[kěn]
[动]
(一点一点儿地往下咬) bite; gnaw; nibble
nibble at an ear of corn
啃老玉米
bite meat off the bone; gnaw the meat off a bone
把骨头上的肉啃下来
A rat can gnaw a hole through wood.
老鼠能啃穿木头。
He was nibbling on the apple.
他在啃苹果。
(徒劳无益的钻研) take great pains with one's studies
delve into books; read with great difficulty but with little understanding; make laborious efforts to read
啃书本