Kanji N3

歯: tooth, cog

歯 is a JLPT N3 kanji meaning tooth, cog, written with 12 strokes. It is read シ (on) and よわい, は (kun). Children in Japan learn it in grade 3. You will see it in 歯 (は, tooth) and 虫歯 (むしば, tooth decay).

歯

Meanings

  • tooth
  • cog
Strokes12
JLPT levelN3
School gradeGrade 3
Frequency#1106 of 2,500

On reading · Kun reading

On reading
  • シ

On'yomi: from Chinese, written in katakana. Used in compound words.

Kun reading
  • よわい
  • は
  • よわい
  • よわいする

Kun'yomi: native Japanese, in hiragana. The faint part is the okurigana, written in kana after the kanji.

Watch the stroke order

Every stroke in order, the live one in vermilion. Replay as often as you like.

123456789101112

Now draw it

Trace each stroke in order. Wrong direction or wrong order gets flagged right away.

1234567891011120 / 12

Your turn: draw stroke 1 of 12. Start at the dot.

Common words with 歯

The most useful words written with it, easiest first. Every other kanji in them opens its own page.

  • 歯は

    tooth; teeth

    JLPT N5
  • 虫歯むしば

    tooth decay; decayed tooth; dental cavity

    JLPT N3
  • 歯医者はいしゃ

    dentist

    JLPT N4
  • 歯科しか

    dentistry

    JLPT N1
  • 歯車はぐるま

    gear; cogwheel

    JLPT N2
  • 歯磨きはみがき

    dental brushing; brushing one's teeth

    JLPT N2
  • 歯止めはどめ

    brake; drag; skid; pawl

  • 歯切れはぎれ

    feel when biting

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Stroke order from KanjiVG © Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0. Readings, meanings and words from KANJIDIC2 and JMdict, names from JMnedict, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0, and Wikidata, CC0. JLPT lists after Jonathan Waller (tanos.co.uk), CC BY.