牙齿

• Pinyin: yá chǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 牙 = pictographic (interlocking teeth shape, extended to mean ivory/tusk); 齿 = 止 + tooth-row components (pictographic — mouth with a row of teeth)

Meaning

Tooth; teeth. The standard general term for the teeth in the human or animal mouth.

The neutral, everyday word for teeth. 牙 can also stand alone colloquially. 齿 is more literary and formal. Together 牙齿 is the standard term used in medical, educational, and everyday contexts. Related terms: 乳牙 (baby teeth), 恒牙 (permanent teeth), 智齿 (wisdom tooth), 牙龈 (gums), 蛀牙 (tooth decay/cavity).

Examples

1. 口腔医生建议每天至少刷两次牙齿，并配合使用牙线以彻底清洁残留于牙缝之间的食物残渣。 Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and using dental floss as well to thoroughly remove food particles left between your teeth.
2. 儿童换牙期间，乳牙逐渐脱落而恒牙相继萌出，家长应定期带孩子检查牙齿发育状况及咬合关系。 During the period when children lose their baby teeth, the primary teeth gradually fall out and permanent teeth come in one after another; parents should take their children for regular checkups of tooth development and bite alignment.
3. 长期吸烟不仅严重损害肺部功能，还会导致牙齿逐渐变色、牙龈萎缩，对整体口腔健康造成不可忽视的危害。 Long-term smoking not only seriously damages lung function, but also causes teeth to gradually stain and gums to recede, posing a significant threat to overall oral health.

Usage Guide

Context: health, medicine, daily life, education

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 定期进行专业洁牙不仅能有效预防龋齿和牙周病，还能让牙齿保持洁白亮泽的良好状态。(Regular professional teeth cleaning not only effectively prevents cavities and periodontal disease but also keeps teeth in a clean, bright, and healthy condition.)
• 运动员在进行接触性运动时应佩戴护齿器，以防止因碰撞导致牙齿受损或脱落。(Athletes should wear a mouthguard during contact sports to prevent damage to or loss of teeth caused by impacts.)

Don't Say

• 她有很美丽的牙齿们 — 牙齿 is already a plural concept in Chinese and does not take 们; simply say 她有一口整齐洁白的牙齿 to describe beautiful teeth naturally

Origin & History

牙 (tooth/ivory — pictographic character resembling interlocking teeth) + 齿 (teeth — shows a row of teeth with 止 at the base)

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal