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.
My child's front tooth came out.
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.
The speaker needs a precise anatomical term for incisor, such as in a medical or dental context.
The speaker wants to distinguish between upper and lower incisors.
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.
I chipped my upper front tooth.
The shape of incisors varies among animals.