歯

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 歯を磨きます。▶ —
   I brush my teeth.
2. 歯が痛い時は歯医者に行きます。▶ —
   When my teeth hurt, I go to the dentist.

Collocations

Mnemonic

歯 ha-tooth — slug disambiguates from 葉 ha (leaf), 端 ha (edge). 歯医者 haisha (dentist) is batch 4. 虫歯 mushiba ("worm tooth") = cavity (from old belief that worms cause decay). Kanji 歯 = 止 (stop) + 米 (visual teeth) showing fixed teeth.

Quick check

1. "To brush teeth" — verb?

   • 磨く migaku (polish/brush — correct)
   • 洗う arau (wash — too general)
   • 掃除する (clean a room, wrong context)
   • ブラシをかける (literal "apply brush", awkward)