Standard modern meaning; a small stick for cleaning teeth.
See also: 爪楊枝
食事の後、楊枝を使った。
After the meal, I used a toothpick.
tea ceremony skewer
A small skewer used in the Japanese tea ceremony to cut and serve sweets. Often made of wood or bamboo.
See also: 黒文字
茶道では、楊枝でお菓子を取ります。
In the tea ceremony, you take sweets with a skewer.
Historical meaning: a toothbrush originally made from a frayed willow twig. Not used in modern Japanese for a modern toothbrush (歯ブラシ).
See also: 歯ブラシ
昔は楊枝で歯を磨いた。
In the old days, people brushed their teeth with a willow twig toothbrush.
楊枝 is the broader term for a small stick used for dental care, while 爪楊枝 specifically means the pointed wooden toothpick used after eating.
楊枝 (toothpick) is another exact homophone of 用事 (errand), distinguished only by context and kanji.
toothpick
toothpick
traditional toothbrush made from a frayed willow twig
dental floss
leisurely post-meal toothpick use
toothbrush (obsolete)
Standard kanji spelling for toothpick and related items.
Kana spelling; common in everyday writing.
Alternate kanji spelling; less common than 楊枝.
From Chinese 楊枝 (yángzhī), literally 'willow branch'. The toothpick was originally made from a willow twig, and the name persisted even as materials changed.