牙膏
yágāo
The English word "toothpaste" is 牙膏 (yágāo) in Chinese.
牙膏 is a noun used to refer to the paste used for cleaning the teeth.
Meaning: paste for cleaning the teeth (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of 牙 (yá), meaning tooth and 膏 (gāo), meaning paste or ointment.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting a single tube of toothpaste, the classifier 一支 (yī zhī) is commonly used, forming the phrase 一支牙膏.
How do you pronounce it?
yágāo
Did you know?
- The word 膏 in 牙膏 also refers to a thick, medicinal paste or a concentrated jam. This means the same character used for 'toothpaste' is also used for 'honey' or 'fruit preserve' in certain contexts.
- The character 牙 is a pictograph that originally resembled a tooth. Even today, its structure mimics the shape of a tooth rooted in the gums.
- While 牙膏 is the standard term, some traditional Chinese households used 'salt' (盐) as a primary teeth cleaner for centuries before modern paste became common.
Examples in context
- 請買一支牙膏。Please buy a tube of toothpaste.This sentence is useful for practicing the request to buy a tube of 牙膏.Tatoeba #9049747 by xjjAstrus, translation #682251 by Source_VOA
- 湯姆忘了買牙膏了。Tom forgot to buy toothpaste.This sentence is useful for describing someone forgetting to buy 牙膏.Tatoeba #9049746 by xjjAstrus, translation #7732807 by CK
- 在哪儿我能找到牙膏？Where can I find toothpaste?This sentence is useful for asking where to find 牙膏.Tatoeba #392232 by fucongcong, translation #263640 by CK
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a bathroom, Wei realizes they are running out of supplies.
- 伟 Wei梓涵，我們的牙膏快用完了。Zǐhán, wǒmen de yágāo kuài yòng wán le.Zihan, our toothpaste is almost finished.
- 梓涵 Zihan好的，我等一下去超市買。Hǎo de, wǒ děng yīxià qù chāoshì mǎi.Okay, I will go to the supermarket to buy some later.
- 伟 Wei謝謝妳。Xièxiè nǐ.Thank you.
- 梓涵 Zihan不客氣。Bù kèqì.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toothpaste” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
