Meaning
tooth; ivory
Chinese: 象牙。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “ya” becomes a different word in each tone. 牙 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 牙刷yá shuātoothbrush
- 牙膏yá gāotoothpaste
- 刷牙shuā yáto brush one's teeth
- 牙齿yá chǐtooth; dental
- 咬牙切齿yǎo yá qiè chǐ(idiom) to gnash one's teeth; to fume with rage
Example Sentence
每天早晚都要刷牙。Měi tiān zǎo wǎn dōu yào shuā yá.Brush your teeth every morning and evening.
每天Měi tiānevery day早晚zǎo wǎnmorning and evening都dōuall要yàoto want刷牙shuā yáto brush one's teeth。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
A pictograph of interlocking back teeth biting together. It means ‘tooth’, especially a molar or tusk.
A way to remember it
Upper and lower teeth locking together — a tooth.
Easy to confuse with
- 芽‘Sprout’: 牙 with the plant radical 艹 on top (牙 gives the sound).