牙膏

• 병음: yá gāo
• 한자 분석: 牙 = pictographic (interlocking teeth shape, extended to mean ivory/tusk); 膏 = 高 + 肉 (high + flesh — a rich, thick substance derived from fat or marrow)

뜻

치약

An everyday household item. Common collocations: 挤牙膏 (squeeze toothpaste), 含氟牙膏 (fluoride toothpaste), 美白牙膏 (whitening toothpaste). Also used metaphorically — 挤牙膏式 describes getting information or results grudgingly, bit by bit, like squeezing a nearly empty tube.

예문

1. 她每天早晚各刷一次牙，习惯在刷牙前先在牙刷上挤一段适量的含氟牙膏。
2. 超市货架上陈列着数十种不同品牌的牙膏，从美白、防蛀到针对敏感牙齿各有侧重。
3. 调查人员对嫌疑人进行多次询问，对方每次只肯透露一点点信息，审讯过程如同挤牙膏一般艰难。

사용 가이드

맥락: daily life, health, household

어조: neutral

올바른 표현

• 牙医建议儿童使用含氟牙膏刷牙，但每次用量不宜超过豌豆大小，以防误吞过多氟化物。(The dentist advised that children should use fluoride toothpaste, but the amount per brushing should not exceed the size of a pea, to prevent swallowing too much fluoride.)
• 由于他不肯主动交代，领导只能一点一点地追问，整个谈话过程犹如挤牙膏，费时又费力。(Since he refused to volunteer information, the manager had to extract it piece by piece — the entire conversation was like squeezing toothpaste, tedious and exhausting.)

피해야 할 표현

• 刷牙膏 — 牙膏 is used alongside 刷牙, not as a standalone verb object; say 用牙膏刷牙 or 挤牙膏 depending on the action; 刷牙膏 sounds as if one is brushing the toothpaste itself

기원과 역사

牙 (tooth) + 膏 (paste/ointment)

문화적 배경

시대: Modern

세대: All ages

사회적 배경: Universal