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齿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
齿
chǐ
tooth
n, 8 strokes, radical 齿, rank #7478, Hard
齿
chǐ
teeth; gears, cogs; age
n, 8 strokes, radical 齿, rank #7478, Hard
chǐ(chi3)chi T3
1tooth
2teeth; gears, cogs; age
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March 24, 2026
齿(齒)chǐ(chi3)
The character 齿 (chǐ) primarily means 'tooth' and can refer to both single teeth and the collective set. It is also used in contexts related to gears or cogs in machinery, as well as metaphorically to indicate age when discussing the number of teeth one has lost over time.
Strokes8Radical齿Frequency#7478DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, teeth are believed to reflect a person's overall health and vitality, making 齿 an important character in discussions about longevity and wellness.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant clock made of teeth, where each tooth is a gear turning smoothly. The sound of the gears clicking together sounds like 'chǐ', helping you remember it means 'tooth' and relates to gears.
Meanings of 齿
chǐ(chi3)
1tooth
2teeth; gears, cogs; age
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 齿 means.
About 齿
齿Simplified
齒Traditional
8Strokes
齿Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7478Frequency Rank
颗Measure Word
Podcast: 齿
Podcast: 齿
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AI study notes for 齿
Quick Contrast
牙 (yá) refers specifically to 'tooth' in a more general sense, while 齿 (chǐ) can imply a more technical or collective aspect, such as in machinery or metaphorical contexts.
Usage Notes
This character is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in dental health discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with 牙 (yá), which also means 'tooth' but refers more specifically to the visible teeth rather than the entire set. Remember to use the correct classifier '颗' (kē) when counting teeth.
HSK Study Tips
While 齿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can help learners grasp related terms like 牙齿 (yáchǐ), meaning 'teeth'. Focus on pronunciation and the different contexts where this character appears, especially in anatomy or machinery.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 齿 (chǐ) with 牙 (yá), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我有三颗牙' (I have three teeth) should correctly be '我有三颗齿' when referring to the concept of teeth in a general sense.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 齿
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The character 齿 (chǐ) primarily means 'tooth' and can refer to both single teeth and the collective set. It is also used in contexts related to gears or cogs in machinery, as well as metaphorically to indicate age when discussing the number of teeth one has lost over time.
When to use 齿
This character is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in dental health discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with 牙 (yá), which also means 'tooth' but refers more specifically to the visible teeth rather than the entire set. Remember to use the correct classifier '颗' (kē) when counting teeth.
齿 or something close to it
牙 (yá) refers specifically to 'tooth' in a more general sense, while 齿 (chǐ) can imply a more technical or collective aspect, such as in machinery or metaphorical contexts.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 齿 (chǐ) with 牙 (yá), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我有三颗牙' (I have three teeth) should correctly be '我有三颗齿' when referring to the concept of teeth in a general sense.
Write 齿
齿
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Practice writing 齿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 齿
齿 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
它猛地朝我的脚脖子咬下去，牙____还咔咔直响。
His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle.
Common confusions with 齿
齿vs齿形
chǐxíng
齿形 relates to the shape of teeth but is a different term
齿vs齿轮
chǐlún
齿轮 includes 齿 but refers specifically to gears
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “tooth”?
or
Example sentences for 齿 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
它猛地朝我的脚脖子咬下去，牙齿还咔咔直响。
tā měng dì cháo wǒ de jiǎo bózi yǎo xiàqù， yáchǐ hái kā kā zhí xiǎng。
His teeth clicked as he snapped at my ankle.
2
将牙线在齿间来回拉动。
jiāng yá xiàn zài chǐ jiān láihuí lā dòng。
Draw the floss backwards and forwards between the teeth.
3
牙医开始在那颗有问题的牙齿上挖洞，钻孔，直到最后把它补好。
yá yī kāishǐ zài nà kē yǒu wèntí de yáchǐ shàng wā dòng， zuān Kǒng， zhídào zuìhòu bǎ tā bǔ hǎo。
The dentist commenced to dig, drill and finally fill the offending tooth.
4
牙齿和牙龈之间会滋生牙斑。
yáchǐ hé yá kěn zhījiān huì zī shēng yá bān。
Deposits of plaque build up between the tooth and the gum.
5
莫妮卡拿起她的伯罗圆珠笔，放在牙齿间转动着。
mò nī kǎ ná qǐ tā de bà luō yuánzhūbǐ， fàng zài yáchǐ jiān zhuàndòng zhe。
Monica picked up her Biro and revolved it between her teeth.
6
牙斑如果不清除就会导致牙齿蛀蚀和牙龈疾病。
yá bān rúguǒ bù qīngchú jiù huì dǎozhì yáchǐ zhù shí hé yá kěn jíbìng。
When not removed, plaque causes tooth decay and gum disease.
7
那只熊龇出牙齿，发出一声低沉的吼叫。
nà zhī xióng zī chū yáchǐ， fāchū yī shēng dī chén de hǒu jiào。
