Translation guide
To eat in small, gentle bites, often used for small animals, light snacking, or showing tentative interest.
Describing the action of taking small, gentle bites, often by animals or people eating lightly.
Eating a small amount of food casually, often between meals.
Common phrase for having a light snack or nibbling on something. Implies casual, small eating.
お腹が空いたから、何か軽くつまもう。
I'm hungry, so let's nibble on something.
Metaphorical use: to show slight interest, or to gradually reduce or affect something.
Literally 'show a little interest'. Used when someone is tentatively interested, like nibbling at an idea.
彼はその提案に少し興味を示した。
He nibbled at the proposal.
かじる can sound rough or animal-like. For people eating politely, use 少しずつ食べる or 軽くつまむ instead.
フォークで少しずつ食べてください。
Please nibble with your fork.
The squirrel is nibbling on a nut.
彼女はクッキーを少しだけかじった。
She nibbled a little bit of the cookie.
Literally 'eat little by little'. A clear, neutral way to describe nibbling without a specific object.
彼は緊張して、パンを少しずつ食べた。
He was nervous and nibbled at his bread.
Specifically for birds pecking or nibbling at food. Not used for people.
小鳥がパンくずをついばんでいる。
The little bird is nibbling at the bread crumbs.
She nibbled on some nuts while working.
Very casual way to say 'eat a little'. Can be used for nibbling when the amount is small.
ケーキをちょっと食べただけだよ。
I just nibbled a bit of the cake.
Describes something gradually eating away or nibbling at something, like costs or time.
手数料が利益をじわじわと減らしている。
The fees are nibbling away at the profits.