咬牙 (yǎo yá) — to clench one's teeth (in pain, determination, or anger); to grind one's teeth (in sleep)
Definition
A vivid verb meaning to clench or grit your teeth, usually as a sign of determination, endurance, or suppressed anger — never just describing chewing.
verb
to clench one's teeth (in pain, determination, or anger)to grind one's teeth (in sleep)
Examples
- 咬牙。Tā téng dé zhí yǎo yá.He was in so much pain he kept clenching his teeth.
- ，。Tā yǎo le yí xià yá, jì xù wǎng qián zǒu.He clenched his teeth once and continued walking.
- ，咬牙。Wèi le chéng gōng, tā yǎo yá jiān chí le xià lái.To succeed, he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Appears in
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