虫歯

• 読み: むしば
• ローマ字: mushiba
• 漢字の分解: 虫 (mushi) — insect, bug; 歯 (ha/ba) — tooth
• 発音: /mɯ.ɕi.ba/

意味

Cavity; tooth decay; decayed tooth. A dental condition caused by bacteria.

A noun for dental caries or cavities. The name literally means 'bug tooth,' reflecting an old folk belief that tiny bugs caused tooth decay. Common expressions include 虫歯になる (to get a cavity), 虫歯を治す (to treat a cavity), and 虫歯予防 (cavity prevention). Children are frequently reminded about 虫歯 to encourage brushing.

例文

1. 甘いものを食べすぎて虫歯になった。
2. 歯医者で虫歯の治療を受けた。
3. 毎日歯を磨かないと虫歯になるよ。

使い方ガイド

場面: health, dentistry, children

トーン: concerned

起源と歴史

Compound of 虫 (mushi, bug/insect) and 歯 (ha/ba, tooth). Reflects the ancient belief, shared across many cultures, that tooth decay was caused by tiny worms or insects eating into the tooth.

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal