歯列矯正
Meaning: Orthodontic treatment; getting braces or aligners to straighten teeth, a major trend among young adults.
歯列矯正 has become one of the biggest self-improvement trends among Japanese young adults, driven by the availability of clear aligners like Invisalign and the influence of Korean beauty standards where perfect teeth are expected. Traditional Japanese beauty once found charm in 八重歯 (snaggletooth), but attitudes have shifted dramatically. The high cost (often 800,000-1,500,000 yen) hasn't deterred demand, with many using dental loans or paying in installments.
Examples
- 歯列矯正始めたけど、最初は痛くてご飯食べられなかった。 开始做牙齿矫正了,刚开始的时候疼得吃不下饭。Empecé con la ortodoncia, pero al principio me dolía tanto que no podía comer.치열 교정을 시작했는데, 처음에는 아파서 밥을 못 먹었어.
- マウスピース矯正なら目立たないから社会人でも始めやすいよ。 隐形矫正不太明显,上班族也容易开始做。Con los alineadores transparentes no se notan, así que es fácil empezar incluso siendo adulto.투명 교정이면 눈에 안 띄니까 직장인도 시작하기 쉬워.
- 歯列矯正に100万かかったけど、やってよかったと思ってる。 牙齿矫正花了100万日元,但觉得做了真的值。La ortodoncia me costó un millón de yenes, pero creo que mereció la pena.치열 교정에 100만 엔 들었지만, 하길 잘했다고 생각해.
Pronunciation
/ɕi.ɾe.tsu.kjoː.seː/
Usage Guide
Context: beauty, health, daily conversation, social media
Tone: aspirational, investment-minded
✓ Do Say
- 歯列矯正って大人になってからでもできるんだよ。 (You can get orthodontic treatment even as an adult.)牙齿矫正成年后也可以做的。La ortodoncia se puede hacer incluso de adulto.치열 교정은 어른이 되고 나서도 할 수 있어. (성인이 된 후에도 교정 치료를 받을 수 있어.)
- 歯列矯正始めてから笑顔に自信持てるようになった。 (Since starting orthodontics, I've become more confident about my smile.)开始做牙齿矫正之后,对自己的笑容更有自信了。Desde que empecé la ortodoncia, sonrío con mucha más confianza.치열 교정을 시작하고 나서 웃는 얼굴에 자신감이 생겼어. (교정을 시작한 후로 미소에 자신감이 붙었어.)
✗ Don't Say
- 「歯並び悪いね」と指摘してから矯正を勧めるのは失礼 (Pointing out someone's crooked teeth before recommending braces is rude)先指出别人'牙齿不整齐'再推荐矫正是很失礼的Señalar a alguien que tiene los dientes torcidos antes de recomendarle la ortodoncia es una falta de respeto「치아가 고르지 않네」라고 지적한 다음에 교정을 권하는 건 실례야 (남의 치아 배열이 안 좋다고 먼저 지적하고 교정을 추천하는 건 무례해)
Common Mistakes
- Thinking 歯列矯正 is only for children — adult orthodontics is now extremely common in Japan, especially with invisible aligners
Origin & History
Medical compound: 歯列 (tooth row; 歯 = tooth + 列 = row/alignment) + 矯正 (correction; 矯 = straighten + 正 = correct). While orthodontics has existed for decades, it became a mainstream lifestyle choice in the 2020s with the spread of clear aligners.
Cultural Context
Era: 2020s mainstream trend, especially with clear aligners
Generation: 20s-30s leading the trend, all ages
Social background: Middle to upper (expensive but increasingly accessible)
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Represents a major cultural shift — Japan once found 八重歯 (snaggletooth) charming, but Korean and global beauty standards have made straight teeth the norm.
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