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Meaning of 食う(くう) in Japanese

Japanese word definition and usage

食う, 喰う, 啖う
JLPT 3
Kana Reading
くう
Romaji
Word Senses
  • Parts of speech
    Godan verb with `u` ending, transitive verb
    Meaning
    to eat
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to live; to make a living; to survive
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to bite; to sting (as insects do)
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to tease; to torment; to taunt; to make light of; to make fun of
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to encroach on; to eat into; to consume
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to defeat a superior; to threaten a position
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to consume time and-or resources
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to receive something (usu. an unfavourable event)
  • Parts of speech
    Meaning
    to have sexual relations with a woman, esp. for the first time

Example Sentences

食う, 喰う, 啖う, くう used in context

Verb Conjugations

Common conjugated forms

Non-Past

Plain
食う
Plain Polite
食います
Negative
食わない
Negative Polite
食いません

Past

Plain
食った
Plain Polite
食いました
Negative
食わなかった
Negative Polite
食いませんでした

Te

Plain
食って
Plain Polite
食いまして
Negative
--
Negative Polite
--

Passive

Plain
食われる
Plain Polite
食われます
Negative
食われない
Negative Polite
食われません

Related Kanji

Kanji found in this word

JLPT 5

eat, food

On: ショク, ジキ

Kun: く.う, く.らう, た.べる, は.む

9 strokes

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eat

On: タン

Kun: く.う, くらわ.す

11 strokes

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eat, drink, receive (a blow), (kokuji)

Kun: く.う, く.らう

12 strokes

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