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龋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
龋qǔtooth decayn, 17 strokes, radical 齿
龋qǔdecayed teethunknown, 17 strokes, radical 齿
龋qǔdental cariesunknown, 17 strokes, radical 齿
qǔ(qu3)qu T3
  1. 1tooth decay
  2. 2decayed teeth
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March 24, 2026

龋(齲)qǔ(qu3)

The character 龋 (qǔ) refers specifically to tooth decay or dental caries, a condition where the structure of a tooth deteriorates due to bacterial activity. It is commonly used in medical and dental contexts to discuss oral health issues related to cavities and decayed teeth.

Strokes17Radical齿
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, oral health is increasingly emphasized, with traditional practices often intertwining with modern dentistry. The awareness of 龋 reflects a growing concern for personal health and hygiene, influenced by both traditional beliefs and contemporary medical practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a tooth that has a 'cute' appearance but is secretly filled with decay, resembling a little creature gnawing away at it. The character 龋 has the radical 龍 (long) which relates to dragons, suggesting something powerful that has turned into decay. Think of a dragon that once was mighty but has now become weak due to rot.

Meanings of 龋

qǔ(qu3)
1tooth decay
2decayed teeth
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 龋

龋Simplified
齲Traditional
17Strokes
齿Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 龋

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AI study notes for 龋

Quick Contrast

龋 (qǔ) vs 蛀 (zhù) — pick 龋 when referring to the condition of tooth decay in a medical context, while 蛀 emphasizes the action of decaying or the process of being eaten away.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 龋 with similar-sounding words. 龋 is primarily used in formal contexts like dental health discussions. Common collocations include 龋齿 (decayed teeth) and 龋病 (dental caries). Ensure the correct tone (third tone) is used to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 龋 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for students focusing on health-related terms. Students should familiarize themselves with related vocabulary such as 牙齿 (teeth) and 口腔 (oral cavity) to enhance their comprehension of dental health discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 龋 with other dental terms like 牙 (tooth) or 牙痛 (toothache). For example, saying 龋痛 (which suggests 'decay pain') is incorrect; instead, use 牙痛 for toothache.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 龋

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Etymology of 龋

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

Origin

龋 = 齿 + 禹. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 龋

IDS Structure⿰齿禹
龋Full character
=
齿chi3
left
禹Yu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 龋?

How to say tooth decay in Chinese

“tooth decay” in Chinese is龋qǔ

The character 龋 (qǔ) refers specifically to tooth decay or dental caries, a condition where the structure of a tooth deteriorates due to bacterial activity. It is commonly used in medical and dental contexts to discuss oral health issues related to cavities and decayed teeth.

When to use 龋

Be careful not to confuse 龋 with similar-sounding words. 龋 is primarily used in formal contexts like dental health discussions. Common collocations include 龋齿 (decayed teeth) and 龋病 (dental caries). Ensure the correct tone (third tone) is used to avoid misunderstandings.

龋 or something close to it

龋 (qǔ) vs 蛀 (zhù) — pick 龋 when referring to the condition of tooth decay in a medical context, while 蛀 emphasizes the action of decaying or the process of being eaten away.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 龋 with other dental terms like 牙 (tooth) or 牙痛 (toothache). For example, saying 龋痛 (which suggests 'decay pain') is incorrect; instead, use 牙痛 for toothache.

Write 龋

龋

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

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Word Family of 龋

Words containing this character4
龋齿qǔchǐtooth decay齲齒
龋qǔdecayed teeth齲
防龋fángqǔanti-caries防齲
龋齿性caries-inducing齲齒性
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 龋

What does 龋齿 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 龋

It is pronounced as qǔ, with a falling-rising tone.

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