Japanese Word · Intermediate
臍を噛む
to bite one's own navel
Pronunciation: [ho̞zo̞ o̞ ka̠mɯ̟]
Meaning
to bite one's own navel
Example
なほ宥し沙汰有らんと欲するの処、今自殺し畢んぬ。後悔臍を食むも益無し
They wanted to be forgiven and for the matter to be resolved, and now they've committed suicide and things are finished. There's no sense regretting it and chewing on your nails.
Practice tips
- Practice 臍を噛む out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this Japanese word is for intermediate-level learners.