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Kotomora

歯

tooth, cog

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes12

Readings

On'yomi

  • シ

Kun'yomi

  • よわい
  • は
  • よわ.い
  • よわい.する

Meaning

歯 centers on a tooth or something tooth-like: a cog or gear tooth that interlocks and drives motion.

Most common words using 歯

20 of 337
  • 歯は
    N5

    tooth; teeth

  • 歯科しか
    N1

    dentistry

  • 歯医者はいしゃ
    N5

    dentist

  • 歯磨きはみがき
    N2

    dental brushing; brushing one's teeth

  • 歯ブラシはブラシ
    N1

    toothbrush

  • 虫歯むしば
    N3

    tooth decay; decayed tooth; dental cavity; dental caries

  • 歯車はぐるま
    N2

    gear; cogwheel

  • 歯茎はぐき

    gums; gingiva

  • 歯止めはどめ
    N1

    brake; drag; skid; pawl

  • 前歯まえば

    front tooth; foretooth; incisor

  • 入れ歯いれば
    N1

    false tooth; denture

  • 歯磨き粉はみがきこ

    tooth powder; toothpaste

  • 奥歯おくば

    back tooth; molar

  • 羊歯しだ

    fern (esp. species Gleichenia japonica); fernery

  • 歯ごたえはごたえ

    chewiness; firmness; feel of food while being chewed

  • 歯並びはならび

    row of teeth; set of teeth; dentition

  • 臼歯きゅうし

    molar (tooth); grinder; premolar

  • 抜歯ばっし

    tooth extraction

  • 歯向かうはむかう
    N1

    to strike back at; to bite back; to turn on; to rise against; to oppose; to defy

  • 出っ歯でっぱ

    protruding tooth; overbite; bucktooth

Explore all words using 歯 →

Study

Etymology

歯 is the modern simplified form of 齒. The older form is a pictograph of a mouth with teeth, later combined with 止 for sound. The modern form retains the 止 top and a simplified lower part representing teeth.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 止 looks like a row of teeth, and the lower part resembles a mouth with teeth inside. Picture a cog's teeth interlocking like a smile.

Reading mnemonic

For シ, imagine a toothy grin: she -> シ, and her teeth are perfectly aligned like cogs.