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齲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
齲qǔtooth decayx, 24 strokes, radical 齒
qǔ(qu3)qu T3
  1. 1tooth decay
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March 24, 2026

齲qǔ(qu3)

The character 齲 (qǔ) refers specifically to tooth decay or cavities in dental health. It is commonly used in medical contexts, particularly when discussing dental issues or hygiene, and highlights the importance of taking care of one's teeth to prevent decay.

Strokes24Radical齒
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, maintaining dental health is increasingly emphasized, especially as awareness of dental care grows. Traditional practices often included natural remedies, but modern dentistry is now widely accepted and promoted.

Memory tip

Imagine a tooth being 'chewed' by bacteria, leading to decay. The character 齲 has the radical for teeth (齒) which relates to its meaning. Visualize a tooth with a 'Q' shape that is slowly turning into mush, reminding you of the pronunciation 'qǔ' and its meaning.

Meanings of 齲

qǔ(qu3)
1tooth decay
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 齲

齲Simplified
24Strokes
齒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 齲

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Podcast: 齲

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AI study notes for 齲

Usage Notes

This term is more commonly used in medical or dental discussions, so it may not be familiar in casual conversation. A common mistake is mispronouncing the tone; remember it is pronounced with a falling tone (qǔ) to convey the correct meaning. Collocations include '齲齒' (qǔchǐ), meaning 'decayed tooth.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 齲 is not included in the HSK list, it is relevant for learners interested in healthcare vocabulary. Focus on related terms like 牙齒 (yáchǐ - tooth) and 齒 (chǐ - teeth), as these will help in understanding dental health discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 齲 with similar sounding words like 取 (qǔ), which means 'to take.' Always remember the context of dental health when using 齲.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 齲

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Etymology of 齲

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 齿 represents the meaning and 禹 represents the sound. Simplified form of 齲.

Memory hint

teeth

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

Origin

齲 = 齒 + 禹. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 齲

IDS Structure⿰齒禹
齲Full character
=
齒chi3
left
禹Yu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 齲?

How to say tooth decay in Chinese

“tooth decay” in Chinese is齲qǔ

The character 齲 (qǔ) refers specifically to tooth decay or cavities in dental health. It is commonly used in medical contexts, particularly when discussing dental issues or hygiene, and highlights the importance of taking care of one's teeth to prevent decay.

When to use 齲

This term is more commonly used in medical or dental discussions, so it may not be familiar in casual conversation. A common mistake is mispronouncing the tone; remember it is pronounced with a falling tone (qǔ) to convey the correct meaning. Collocations include '齲齒' (qǔchǐ), meaning 'decayed tooth.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 齲 with similar sounding words like 取 (qǔ), which means 'to take.' Always remember the context of dental health when using 齲.

Write 齲

齲

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

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Word Family of 齲

Words containing this character4
龋齿qǔchǐtooth decay齲齒
龋qǔdecayed teeth齲
防龋fángqǔanti-caries防齲
龋齿性qǔchǐxìngcaries-inducing齲齒性
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 齲

What does 龋齿 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 齲

It is pronounced as 'qǔ' with the third tone.

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