Translation guide
The incisor is one of the front teeth used for cutting. In Japanese, the most common term is 前歯 (maeba), but there are also anatomical terms like 切歯 (sesshi) and more specific words for upper/lower incisors.
The speaker wants to refer to an incisor in casual or everyday conversation, such as when talking about a child losing a tooth or a visible front tooth.
This is the most common, everyday word for 'front tooth' or 'incisor'. It literally means 'front tooth' and is used in daily conversation.
子供の前歯が抜けた。
My child's front tooth came out.
前歯でりんごをかじる。
Bite into an apple with your front teeth.
The same kanji can be read as ぜんし, which is slightly more formal or technical than まえば, but still used in some contexts like dental descriptions.
上の前歯が欠けました。
I chipped my upper front tooth.
The speaker needs a precise anatomical term for incisor, such as in a medical or dental context.
This is the standard anatomical term for 'incisor'. It is used in dentistry and biology.
切歯は食物を噛み切る役割を果たす。
Incisors function to cut food.
Another anatomical term for incisor, literally 'gate tooth'. It is less common than 切歯 but still used in some medical texts.
門歯の形状は動物によって異なる。
The shape of incisors varies among animals.
The speaker wants to distinguish between upper and lower incisors.
Literally 'upper front teeth', this is the natural way to say 'upper incisors' in everyday Japanese.
上の前歯が少し出ている。
My upper front teeth stick out a little.
Literally 'lower front teeth', used for 'lower incisors'.
下の前歯がぐらぐらする。
My lower front tooth is loose.
In daily conversation, always use 前歯 (まえば). 切歯 (せっし) is reserved for technical or medical contexts. Using 切歯 in casual speech may sound overly formal or stiff.