Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
蛀牙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛀牙zhùyá蛀牙 (zhùyá) refers to a cavity or decayed tooth caused by dental caries. It is commonly used in medical and dental contexts when discussing oral health and hygiene. The term highlights the importance of taking care of one's teeth to prevent decay.HSK 7, 16 strokes, Hard
zhùyá(zhu4ya2) T4
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
May 27, 2026
蛀牙zhùyá(zhu4ya2)

蛀牙 (zhùyá) refers to a cavity or decayed tooth caused by dental caries. It is commonly used in medical and dental contexts when discussing oral health and hygiene. The term highlights the importance of taking care of one's teeth to prevent decay.

Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on maintaining oral hygiene, reflected in traditional practices and modern dental care. The term 蛀牙 is often discussed in the context of family health, where parents educate their children about the importance of dental care.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny bug (蛀) munching on a tooth (牙). The bug represents the decay that causes a cavity. Just like the bug eats away at the tooth, neglecting dental care can lead to蛀牙 (zhùyá).

About 蛀牙

蛀牙Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 蛀牙

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蛀牙

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蛀牙

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tiny bug (蛀) munching on a tooth (牙). The bug represents the decay that causes a cavity. Just like the bug eats away at the tooth, neglecting dental care can lead to蛀牙 (zhùyá).

Usage Notes

This term is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing health issues. Common collocations include '检查蛀牙' (check for cavities) and '治疗蛀牙' (treat cavities). Be careful with pronunciation, as the tones can change the meaning of similar words.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 7 word, learners should focus on using 蛀牙 in more complex sentences related to health and wellness. It's beneficial to connect this term with other dental-related vocabulary like '牙齿' (teeth) and '牙医' (dentist) to enhance understanding.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on maintaining oral hygiene, reflected in traditional practices and modern dental care. The term 蛀牙 is often discussed in the context of family health, where parents educate their children about the importance of dental care.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛀牙 with 牙痛 (toothache). For example, saying '我有蛀牙' (I have a toothache) is incorrect; it should be '我牙痛' (I have a toothache).

AI-enhanced 2026-05-27

Pronunciation of 蛀牙

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 蛀牙 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Write 蛀牙

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 蛀牙

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, there is a strong emphasis on maintaining oral hygiene, reflected in traditional practices and modern dental care. The term 蛀牙 is often discussed in the context of family health, where parents educate their children about the importance of dental care.

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛀牙

The word for cavity in Chinese is 蛀牙 (zhùyá).