う蝕 (うしょく) Japanese meaning | KotomoraMeanings
1
noun
dental caries; tooth decay
dentistry
Medical/dental term for cavities or tooth decay.
eclipse, occultation, be defective
Similar words
- 虫歯
Common everyday term for a cavity or decayed tooth; う蝕 is the formal medical term.
- カリエス
Loanword from German 'Karies', also used in dental contexts; う蝕 is the native Japanese medical term.
Etymology
From う (caries) + 蝕 (erosion). う is a simplified form of 齲 (tooth decay), and 蝕 refers to erosion or corrosion. The term is a modern medical coinage.
