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齱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
zōuuneven teeth; buck-toothedx, 23 strokes, radical 齒, Very Hard
zōu(zou1) T1
  1. 1uneven teeth; buck-toothed
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
zōu(zou1)

The character 齱 (zōu) refers to uneven or buck-toothed teeth. It describes a condition where the alignment of teeth is irregular, which can affect one's appearance and sometimes impact speech. This term is often used in discussions about dental health or aesthetics.

Strokes23RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, having well-aligned teeth is often associated with beauty and health, making the concept of 齱 particularly relevant in discussions about personal grooming and aesthetics.

Memory Tip

Think of 齱 (zōu) as a 'z' for zigzagging teeth. The component 齿 (teeth) is prominent, and you can imagine teeth sticking out in various directions like a zigzag line. Visualize a cartoon character with big, uneven teeth, making it easy to remember both the shape and the sound.

Meanings of 齱

zōu(zou1)
1uneven teeth; buck-toothed
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 齱

Simplified
23Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 齱

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 齱

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 齱 (zōu) as a 'z' for zigzagging teeth. The component 齿 (teeth) is prominent, and you can imagine teeth sticking out in various directions like a zigzag line. Visualize a cartoon character with big, uneven teeth, making it easy to remember both the shape and the sound.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 齱, as it can have negative connotations regarding someone's appearance. This word is informal and may not be appropriate in formal contexts or when discussing someone's dental health directly. Common collocations include phrases like '齱牙' (buck-toothed).

HSK Study Tips

Although 齱 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects to topics around health and body vocabulary. Students at higher levels should focus on descriptive adjectives and related terms in dental health discussions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, having well-aligned teeth is often associated with beauty and health, making the concept of 齱 particularly relevant in discussions about personal grooming and aesthetics.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 齱 with similar characters like 齿 (teeth) or 牙 (tooth). For instance, saying '我有齿' (I have teeth) instead of '我有齱' (I have uneven teeth) misses the nuance. Always ensure you understand the context before using this term.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 齱

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Etymology of 齱

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

teeth

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 齱?

Decomposition of 齱

IDS Structure⿰齒取
Full Character
=
chi3
left
qu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 齱?

Write 齱

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 齱

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, having well-aligned teeth is often associated with beauty and health, making the concept of 齱 particularly relevant in discussions about personal grooming and aesthetics.

Frequently Asked Questions about 齱

No, 齱 is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it may appear more in medical or dental contexts.