歯
ha[ha̠]
The Japanese word for "teeth" is 歯 (ha).
歯 refers to the hard, white structures in the mouth used for biting and chewing food. It is used to describe both a single tooth and multiple teeth.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, 歯 functions as both the singular "tooth" and the plural "teeth". When expressing that a tooth hurts, Japanese speakers use the particle が after 歯 (歯が痛い) to indicate that the tooth is the subject experiencing the pain. You can also see the word used in the term for dentist, 歯医者, which literally translates to "tooth doctor".
How do you pronounce it?
ha
Did you know?
- The phrase 歯が立たない literally means 'one's teeth do not stand', but it is used to describe an opponent who is too strong to defeat.
- In Japanese culture, a slight gap between the front teeth, called 八重歯 when referring to double teeth, is sometimes viewed as a cute or charming trait.
- The pronunciation of 歯 has undergone a significant shift over time, evolving from an original sound of pa to the modern ha.
Examples in context
- 歯を磨いたの？Did you brush your teeth?This example shows how to ask if someone brushed their teeth using 歯.Tatoeba #150956 by small_snow, translation #263600 by CK
- 歯は磨いたの？Have you brushed your teeth?This example shows an alternative way to ask if someone has brushed their teeth using 歯.Tatoeba #11741353 by small_snow, translation #3452102 by CK
- 飴は歯に悪い。Candy is bad for your teeth.This example demonstrates how to say candy is bad for your teeth using 歯.Tatoeba #12957147 by small_snow, translation #6880532 by Hybrid
- Watashi no ha ga itai desu. (私の歯が痛いです。)My teeth hurt.
- 102 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are talking about a visit to the dentist.
- 大翔 Hiroto歯が痛いんだ。Ha ga itai nda.My tooth hurts.
- 陽葵 Himari歯医者に行かなくちゃね。Haisha ni ikanakucha ne.You have to go to the dentist.
- 大翔 Hirotoもう予約したよ。Mō yoyaku shita yo.I already made an appointment.
- 陽葵 Himariそれはよかったね。Sore wa yokatta ne.That's good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 歯, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 歯, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
