# 歯 tooth

止 (stop) + (pit) + 米 (rice / America)
★★★★☆
12 strokes
SYMBOLIC

## Onyomi

## Mnemonic

| Teeth are there to stop the rice from falling into the pits of your gums.

## Kunyomi

は | tooth ★★★★★

## Jukugo

虫歯(むしば) | cavity ★★☆☆☆ KUNKUN 虫 (insizzect) + 歯 (tooth) = 虫歯 (cavity) a cavity (literally, 'bug tooth,' because parents would tell their kids, 'If you get a cavity, bugs will crawl in the hole and nest and lay eggs.')
歯医者(はいしゃ) | dentist ★★☆☆☆ 歯 (tooth) + 医者 (doctor) = 歯医者 (dentist)
出っ歯(でっぱ) | buckteeth; rabbit-lookin'-ass teeth. ★☆☆☆☆ KUNKUN 出 (pull out / hand over) + 歯 (tooth) = 出っ歯 (buckteeth; rabbit-lookin'-ass teeth.)
八重歯(やえば) | gnarly teeth ★☆☆☆☆ FP 八 (eight) + 重 (heavy / overlap) + 歯 (tooth) = 八重歯 (gnarly teeth) the gnarled, wish-I-had-braces teeth that Japanese are famous for. Lots of Japanese find it cute, in fact.

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
歯 | tooth | STOP | 止
奥 | waaay in the back | BIG | 大

STOP the tooth decay.

Use a BIG toothbrush from the front, to way in the back.

## Used In

- 噛
- 齢