歯
tooth · cog
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
stop + 凵 + rice
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of stop and rice. Stopping food in mouth.
Symbolism
Teeth, chewing, health. Represents biting.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
切歯扼腕
せっしやくわん
being enraged (indignant, impatient); gnashing the teeth and clenching the arms on the breast (in anger or regret); being enraged (indignant, impatient)
唇歯輔車
しんしほしゃ
mutual dependence; mutual dependence
明眸皓歯
めいぼうこうし
starry eyes and beautiful white teeth (said of beautiful women); starry eyes and beautiful white teeth (said of beautiful women)
朱唇皓歯
しゅしんこうし
red lips and pearly white teeth (said of beautiful women); red lips and pearly white teeth (said of beautiful women)
Proverbs & Idioms
歯に衣着せぬ
はにきぬきせぬ
Not clothing one's teeth
Speaking frankly
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 歯 mean in Japanese?
歯 means tooth, cog.
How do you read 歯?
On'yomi: シ (SHI). Kun'yomi: よわい、は、よわ.い、よわい.する (yowai, ha, yowai, yowaisuru).
How many strokes does 歯 have?
歯 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 止 (stop).
Is 歯 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 歯 (tooth, cog) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.