歯は応ごたえ

は

ご

た

え

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

chewiness; firmness; texture when chewed

Describes the physical resistance or satisfying bite of food, such as al dente pasta, crunchy vegetables, or chewy meat.

このパンは外そとはカリッと、中なかはもちもちした歯

は

ごたえ

が

楽たの

しめる

。

This bread lets you enjoy a crispy outside and a chewy, springy texture inside.

茹ゆですぎると麺めんの歯は応ごたえがなくなる。

If you overcook the noodles, they lose their firmness.

2

noun

challenge; toughness; substance

Figurative extension: something that requires effort or provides a sense of worthwhile difficulty, like a demanding task, a substantial book, or a tough opponent.

この問もん題だいはなかなか歯は応ごたえがあって、解とくのに時じ間かんがかかった。
This problem was quite challenging and took time to solve.
彼かれの新しん作さくは前ぜん作さくよりずっと歯は応ごたえのある内ない容ようだ。
His new work has much more substance than his previous one.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉に歯はごたえがあるsomething has a chewy/firm texture
このパンには歯はごたえがあって美味おいしい。
This bread has a satisfying chewiness and tastes great.
〈事こと〉に歯はごたえがあるa task or challenge has real substance/difficulty
この仕し事ごとは歯はごたえがあってやりがいを感かんじる。
This job has real substance to it, which makes it rewarding.
歯はごたえのある〈物もの〉food with a firm, chewy texture
歯はごたえのある野や菜さいが好すきです。
I like vegetables with a nice crunch to them.
歯はごたえのある〈事こと〉a demanding, substantial challenge or opponent
歯はごたえのある相あい手てと対たい戦せんしたい。
I want to compete against a worthy, challenging opponent.
歯はごたえのない〈物もの〉food that is too soft/limp, lacking bite
煮にすぎて歯はごたえのないうどんになった。
It got overcooked into limp udon with no bite left.

Kanji

歯tooth, cog
応apply, answer, yes

Related words

食しょっ感かん sense 1
食感 is the general term for any food texture (smooth, crispy, etc.), while 歯応え specifically means the resistance or chewiness felt when biting.
手て応ごたえN1sense 2
手応え describes the felt response or resistance when acting on something (e.g. a task or opponent), the same figurative territory as 歯応え's 'challenge' sense.
噛かみ応ごたえ sense 1
噛みごたえ is a close synonym describing the resistance felt while chewing, but 歯応え is the more common word and also carries the figurative 'challenge' sense.
歯は触ざわり sense 1
歯触り focuses on the sensation of a food's surface against the teeth (smooth, rough), whereas 歯応え is about the resistance or chewiness of the bite itself.
歯は切ぎれ
歯応え refers specifically to the chewiness or resistance felt when biting into something like meat or al dente pasta, while 歯切れ focuses on the crispness or clean break of food, or clarity of speech.

Written forms

歯は応ごたえUsage18%
Standard kanji spelling; high frequency in news and general use.
歯はごたえUsage82%
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling; the kana ご makes the reading clear.

Etymology

Compound of 歯 (tooth) and 応え (response, effect), literally 'tooth response'. The figurative sense developed from the idea of something that gives a satisfying resistance, like chewy food.