歯のクリーニング
ha no kurīningu
歯のクリーニング (ha no kurīningu) is the Japanese phrase for teeth cleaning.
This phrase refers to a professional procedure where a dentist or hygienist removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. While the full phrase is understood, patients in a Japanese dental clinic often simply use the loanword クリーニング (kurīningu) to refer to the procedure.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 歯 (teeth), the possessive particle の (of/'s) and クリーニング (the loanword for 'cleaning').
Which one should you use?
You can use 歯科クリーニング (dental cleaning) to sound more like a formal medical term used in clinics by replacing 歯の (teeth's) with 歯科 (dental). Additionally, 歯のお手入れ (care of teeth) can be used as a formal way to say teeth cleaning.
How do you pronounce it?
ha no kurīningu
Did you know?
- While クリーニング is used for dental care, if you use this word alone in a department store, people will assume you are talking about 'dry cleaning' for clothes. To avoid confusion, it is always safer to include the word for teeth, 歯.
- The term お手入れ (oteire), used in 歯のお手入れ, originally referred to the careful tending of a garden or a traditional tea ceremony tool.
- A common way to describe the sensation of a cleaning in Japanese is 歯がツルツルになる (ha ga tsuru tsuru ni naru). This uses the onomatopoeia 'tsuru tsuru' to describe the smooth, slippery feeling of clean enamel.
Examples in context
- 先生、次回の予約は歯のクリーニングです。Doctor, my next appointment is for teeth cleaning.
- 今日は歯のクリーニングがあります。Kyō wa ha no kurīningu ga arimasu.I have a teeth cleaning today.
- 定期的に歯のクリーニングを受けましょう。Teikiteki ni ha no kurīningu o ukemashō.Let's get a professional teeth cleaning regularly.
- 歯のクリーニングの予約をしたいです。Ha no kurīningu no yoyaku o shitai desu.I would like to make an appointment for a teeth cleaning.
Example conversation
A couple is discussing their weekend plans at home.
- 大翔 Hiroto結衣、今週末は空いてる？Yui, konshūmatsu wa aiteru?Yui, are you free this weekend?
- 結衣 Yui土曜日に歯のクリーニングに行く予定だよ。Doyōbi ni ha no kurīningu ni iku yotei dayo.I'm planning to go for a teeth cleaning on Saturday.
- 大翔 Hirotoじゃあ、日曜日に買い物に行こうか。Jā, nichiyōbi ni kaimono ni ikō ka.Then, shall we go shopping on Sunday?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、いいよ！Un, ii yo!Yeah, that sounds good!
