‘咀嚼’ (jǔ jué) is a verb meaning ‘to chew’—the physical act of breaking down food with the teeth. The two characters each contribute to this meaning: 咀 (jǔ) refers to the mouth’s action of taking food in and beginning mastication, while 嚼 (jué) specifically denotes grinding or crushing with the teeth. Together, they form a compound that emphasizes thorough, deliberate chewing—not just biting, but the full mechanical process essential for digestion.

Beyond its literal sense, ‘咀嚼’ is also used metaphorically to mean ‘to ruminate’ or ‘to reflect deeply’ on ideas, experiences, or texts—just as chewing breaks food into digestible parts, mental ‘chewing’ helps process complex thoughts. It appears frequently in health advice (e.g., ‘chew slowly’), biology lessons about digestion, and literary contexts describing thoughtful analysis.