牙きば

き

ば

Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

tusk; fang

Refers to long, pointed teeth of animals such as elephants, boars, or snakes. Can also be used figuratively for sharp, aggressive qualities.

牙きばが生はえるfor tusks/fangs to grow in
子こ供どものイノシシにも小ちいさな牙きばが生はえてきた。
Even the baby wild boar has started growing small tusks.
牙きばを隠かくすto hide one's fangs (figuratively, to conceal one's aggressive or dangerous nature)
彼かれは普ふ段だんは穏おだやかだが、内うちに牙きばを隠かくしている。
He seems calm on the surface, but he hides his fangs underneath.

歯はN5
歯 is the general word for any tooth, while 牙 refers specifically to a long, pointed tusk or fang.

犬けん歯し
犬歯 is the precise anatomical term for a canine tooth, whereas 牙 is the everyday, more dramatic word used for tusks or fangs in general.
歯はN5
歯 refers to a normal tooth found in humans and most animals, while 牙 specifically means a fang or tusk used for grasping or defense.
象ぞう牙げ
牙 is the general word for a fang or tusk on any animal, while 象牙 refers specifically to the ivory material taken from an elephant's tusk.
角つのN3
牙 refers to a fang or tusk projecting from the mouth, whereas 角 refers to a horn or antler growing from the head.

本ほんN5
Used because a fang (牙) is long and thin, like other objects counted with 本.

牙Usage71%
- きば
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading きば is the most common modern pronunciation.
- き
  out-dated reading
キバUsage26%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is occasionally used for emphasis or in stylized contexts.
きばUsage3%
Kana spelling is sometimes used for clarity or in children's materials.
き
out-dated reading

The kanji 牙 is a pictograph of an animal's tusk or fang. The reading きば is the native Japanese word, while き is an older, now obsolete reading.