噛みつく

• Reading: かみつく
• Romaji: kamitsuku
• Kanji breakdown: 噛 (ka) — bite; つく — attach, cling to (written in hiragana)
• Pronunciation: /ka.mi.tsɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

To bite; to sink one's teeth into something or someone; figuratively, to snap at someone verbally, or to challenge aggressively.

A Group 1 (godan) verb used in both literal and figurative senses. The literal sense describes an animal or person biting down onto something. The figurative sense — aggressively confronting or challenging someone, particularly in response to criticism or unfairness — is common in journalism and everyday speech. Often implies a spontaneous, reactive outburst. The compound つく carries the nuance of latching on or clinging to.

Examples

1. 野良犬が突然後ろから噛みついてきたので、驚いて叫んだ。 A stray dog suddenly bit me from behind, and I cried out in surprise.
2. 不当な批判に噛みついた彼女は、証拠を挙げながら堂々と反論した。 She snapped back at the unjust criticism, countering boldly with evidence.
3. 幼い子どもが友達の腕に噛みつくことがあり、保育士が対応に苦慮している。 Young children sometimes bite their friends' arms, and nursery workers struggle to deal with it.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, conflict, animals, debate

Tone: assertive

Origin & History

Compound of 噛む (to bite) and つく (to attach, to cling to). The combined image is of biting down and latching onto something without letting go.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: All classes