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齦 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
齦kěngumsx, 21 strokes, radical 齒
kěn(ken3) T3
  1. 1gums
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

齦kěn(ken3)

The character 齦 (kěn) refers specifically to the gums in the mouth, which are the soft tissues that surround the base of the teeth. In medical or dental contexts, this term is often used to describe conditions related to gum health, such as gingivitis. It is not commonly used in daily conversation but appears in more specialized discussions about oral health.

Strokes21Radical齒
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the health of the gums is believed to reflect overall bodily health, and various remedies may be prescribed to improve gum condition. This reflects a holistic view of health prevalent in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'ken' (kěn) dog who has healthy, strong gums. The character 齦 features the radical 齒 (tooth) on the left, reminding you of its connection to dental health. Picture this dog showing off its shiny teeth, supported by healthy gums, to reinforce the meaning.

Meanings of 齦

kěn(ken3)
1gums
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 齦

齦Simplified
21Strokes
齒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 齦

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Podcast: 齦

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AI Study Notes for 齦

Usage Notes

This term is generally used in formal or medical contexts rather than casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with related terms for teeth (齒) or mouth (口). Common collocations include 齦炎 (gingivitis) and 齦出血 (gum bleeding).

HSK Study Tips

Although 齦 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to the HSK 4 topic of health and body. Students should familiarize themselves with dental and health-related vocabulary at this level, focusing on the contexts in which 齦 might appear.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 齦 (gums) with 齒 (teeth) due to their similar contexts. For example, saying 齦 (gums) when referring to a dental procedure might lead to misunderstandings; ensure you use 齒 (teeth) when discussing teeth-related issues.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 齦

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Etymology of 齦

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

Phonosemantic compound. 齿 represents the meaning and 艮 represents the sound. Simplified form of 齦.

Memory Hint

teeth

Semantic (meaning)齒
+
Phonetic (sound)艮
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 齦

Phonosemantic compound. 齿 represents the meaning and 艮 represents the sound. Simplified form of 齦.

  1. 1The meaning half齒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half艮 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayteeth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 齦? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 齦?

Decomposition of 齦

IDS Structure⿰齒艮
齦Full Character
=
齒chi3
left
艮gen3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 齦?

How to say gums in Chinese

“gums” in Chinese is齦kěn

The character 齦 (kěn) refers specifically to the gums in the mouth, which are the soft tissues that surround the base of the teeth. In medical or dental contexts, this term is often used to describe conditions related to gum health, such as gingivitis. It is not commonly used in daily conversation but appears in more specialized discussions about oral health.

When to use 齦

This term is generally used in formal or medical contexts rather than casual conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with related terms for teeth (齒) or mouth (口). Common collocations include 齦炎 (gingivitis) and 齦出血 (gum bleeding).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 齦 (gums) with 齒 (teeth) due to their similar contexts. For example, saying 齦 (gums) when referring to a dental procedure might lead to misunderstandings; ensure you use 齒 (teeth) when discussing teeth-related issues.

Write 齦

齦

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 齦

Words Containing This Character6
牙龈gums牙齦
龈kěnto gnaw齦
牙龈炎gingivitis牙齦炎
齿龈gum齒齦
龈炎gingivitis齦炎
齿龈炎gingivitis齒齦炎
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 牙龈 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 齦

The character 齦 is pronounced as 'kěn', with a falling tone.

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