歯
tooth · cog
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of stop and rice. Stopping food in mouth.
Symbolism
Teeth, chewing, health. Represents biting.
Component Breakdown
stop + 凵 + rice
Words & Expressions
Words written with 歯
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)
唇歯輔車
しんしほしゃ
mutual dependence
明眸皓歯
めいぼうこうし
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)
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?
歯 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means tooth, cog. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.