牙刷
yáshuā
The English word toothbrush is 牙刷 (yáshuā) in Chinese.
牙刷 is a noun referring to a brush used for cleaning the teeth and the tongue.
Meaning: brush for cleaning the teeth and tongue (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 牙 (yá), meaning 'tooth' and 刷 (shuā), meaning 'to brush' or 'brush'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the word for toothbrush is 牙刷 (ngaa4 seot3).
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting toothbrushes, the most common classifier used is 把 (bǎ), which is used for objects with handles.
How do you pronounce it?
yáshuā
Did you know?
- The word 刷 (shuā) can be used as a verb to mean 'to swipe' in the context of modern digital technology, such as swiping a credit card or a phone screen.
- While the modern 牙刷 is standard, traditional Chinese oral hygiene once involved using a 'chewing stick' or a branch of a willow tree to scrub the teeth.
- In China, it is common to find 'toothbrush' related products marketed as 'whitening' or 'health' tools, often linked to the concept of 养生 or 'nourishing life'.
Examples in context
- 這把是我的牙刷。That's my toothbrush.This sentence is useful for identifying ownership of the 牙刷.Tatoeba #9049743 by xjjAstrus, translation #2251106 by CK
- 哪把是我的牙刷？Which one is my toothbrush?This sentence is useful for asking which specific 牙刷 belongs to you.Tatoeba #9049744 by xjjAstrus, translation #10996400 by DJ_Saidez
- 我需要一把新的牙刷。I need a new toothbrush.This sentence is useful for expressing a need for a new 牙刷.Tatoeba #9049745 by xjjAstrus, translation #5207762 by CK
- 我需要买一支牙刷。I need to buy a toothbrush.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Junjie and Yuting are preparing to go to a hotel.
- 俊杰 Junjie雨婷，你記得帶牙刷嗎？Yǔtíng, nǐ jìde dài yáshuā ma?Yuting, did you remember to bring a toothbrush?
- 雨婷 Yuting我忘了，我現在去拿牙刷。Wǒ wàngle, wǒ xiànzài qù ná yáshuā.I forgot, I will go get the toothbrush now.
- 俊杰 Junjie好的，我也得找我的牙刷。Hǎo de, wǒ yě děi zhǎo wǒ de yáshuā.Okay, I also need to find my toothbrush.
- 雨婷 Yuting快點，不然我們要遲到了。Kuài diǎn, bùrán wǒmen yào chídào le.Hurry up, otherwise we will be late.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toothbrush” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
