When you want to say "to brush teeth" in Chinese, the word you're looking for is 刷牙 (shuā yá). This is a common verb phrase that literally means "to brush" (刷) "teeth" (牙).
You'll use 刷牙 when talking about your daily oral hygiene routine. For example, before you go to bed or when you wake up in the morning, you 刷牙.
When discussing advanced topics like daily routines, especially personal hygiene, the term 刷牙 (shuāyá) for "to brush teeth" is fundamental. At a C1 level, you should be able to integrate this verb seamlessly into complex sentence structures, such as describing morning routines that include multiple actions, or discussing dental health practices. You might also encounter it in more nuanced contexts, like talking about the frequency of brushing, different types of toothbrushes, or even cultural comparisons of oral hygiene habits. Therefore, a solid grasp of 刷牙 and its usage in various grammatical constructions is expected for advanced learners.
When you hear 刷牙 (shuāyá), it means "to brush your teeth." The first character, 刷 (shuā), specifically means "to brush" or "to scrub." Think of brushing hair, brushing a shoe, or even brushing paint. The second character, 牙 (yá), simply means "tooth" or "teeth."
So, literally, you are doing a "brush-tooth" action. This word is very straightforward and commonly used in daily life. You'll use it every morning and evening!
§ Understanding 刷牙 (shuā yá)
You're learning Chinese, and sooner or later, you'll need to talk about basic daily routines. One of the most common is brushing your teeth. In Chinese, the most straightforward and universally understood way to say this is 刷牙 (shuā yá).
- DEFINITION
- To brush teeth
§ Common Usage of 刷牙
When you want to express the action of brushing your teeth, 刷牙 is almost always the correct choice. It's used in everyday conversation, in formal contexts, and when talking about dental hygiene.
我每天早上都刷牙。
Translation hint: I brush my teeth every morning.
吃完饭后记得刷牙。
Translation hint: Remember to brush your teeth after eating.
§ Are there alternatives?
For the specific action of brushing your teeth, there aren't really direct alternative verbs that mean the same thing. However, you might encounter other words related to dental hygiene. Let's look at them briefly so you don't get confused.
漱口 (shù kǒu): This means 'to rinse one's mouth' or 'to gargle.' While related to oral hygiene, it's not the same as brushing. You might rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash, but you wouldn't use a toothbrush for 漱口.
他用漱口水漱口。
Translation hint: He rinses his mouth with mouthwash.
洗牙 (xǐ yá): This refers to a professional dental cleaning, often done by a dentist or hygienist. It's a more intense cleaning than what you do at home with a toothbrush.
我需要去看牙医洗牙。
Translation hint: I need to go to the dentist for a dental cleaning.
§ When to use 刷牙
Always use 刷牙 when you mean 'to brush your teeth' with a toothbrush. It's the standard, most natural way to express this action in Chinese. Don't overthink it or try to find a more complex term; 刷牙 is exactly what you need.
In summary:
刷牙 (shuā yá): Brushing your teeth yourself with a toothbrush.
漱口 (shù kǒu): Rinsing your mouth (with water or mouthwash).
洗牙 (xǐ yá): Getting your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist.
Stick with 刷牙 for your daily dental routine, and you'll be speaking like a native in no time!
난이도
Common characters, straightforward meaning.
Common characters, relatively simple strokes.
Two simple syllables, common tones.
Distinct sounds, easy to differentiate.
다음에 무엇을 배울까
선수 학습
다음에 배울 것
고급
알아야 할 문법
You can use 刷牙 as a verb directly. No need for extra words.
我每天早上刷牙。(I brush my teeth every morning.)
If you want to specify who is brushing their teeth, put the person before 刷牙.
他喜欢刷牙。(He likes to brush his teeth.)
To ask a 'yes/no' question, add 吗 at the end of the sentence.
你刷牙了吗？(Did you brush your teeth?)
To say you didn't brush your teeth, use 没 (méi) before 刷牙.
我没刷牙。(I didn't brush my teeth.)
You can combine 刷牙 with adverbs like 常常 (chángcháng - often) or 总是 (zǒngshì - always) to describe frequency.
我常常刷牙。(I often brush my teeth.)
수준별 예문
我每天早上刷牙。
I brush my teeth every morning.
你刷牙了吗？
Did you brush your teeth?
他喜欢刷牙。
He likes to brush his teeth.
我们一起刷牙吧。
Let's brush our teeth together.
她正在刷牙。
She is brushing her teeth.
小狗不能刷牙。
Little dogs cannot brush their teeth.
请你刷牙。
Please brush your teeth.
刷牙很重要。
Brushing teeth is very important.
我每天早上和晚上都会刷牙。
I brush my teeth every morning and evening.
刷牙对牙齿健康很重要。
Brushing teeth is important for dental health.
你刷牙了吗？
Did you brush your teeth?
医生建议我们每天至少刷牙两次。
The doctor recommends that we brush our teeth at least twice a day.
孩子不喜欢刷牙，我总是要催他。
My child doesn't like brushing his teeth; I always have to urge him.
旅行时别忘了带牙刷和牙膏来刷牙。
Don't forget to bring your toothbrush and toothpaste to brush your teeth when traveling.
吃完甜食后最好刷牙，防止蛀牙。
It's best to brush your teeth after eating sweets to prevent cavities.
她刷牙时总是很仔细。
She is always very careful when brushing her teeth.
我每天早上和晚上都会刷牙。
I brush my teeth every morning and evening.
你刷牙的时候要仔细一点，别弄伤牙龈。
Be careful when you brush your teeth, don't hurt your gums.
医生建议我们每次刷牙至少两分钟。
The doctor suggests we brush our teeth for at least two minutes each time.
吃完甜食后最好刷牙，这样可以保护牙齿。
It's best to brush your teeth after eating sweets to protect them.
孩子们不喜欢刷牙，所以家长需要监督他们。
Children don't like brushing their teeth, so parents need to supervise them.
他刷牙时总是喜欢听音乐。
He always likes to listen to music when he brushes his teeth.
你有没有刷牙就出门了？
Did you go out without brushing your teeth?
请你帮我拿一下牙刷和牙膏，我要刷牙了。
Please help me get the toothbrush and toothpaste, I'm going to brush my teeth.
我每天早上和晚上都会刷牙，保持口腔清洁。
I brush my teeth every morning and evening to keep my mouth clean.
医生建议我使用含氟牙膏刷牙，以预防蛀牙。
The doctor advised me to brush my teeth with fluoride toothpaste to prevent cavities.
你刷牙的时候要仔细，每个牙齿都要刷到。
You need to be thorough when brushing your teeth; make sure to brush every tooth.
孩子们不喜欢刷牙，每次都要大人催促。
Children don't like brushing their teeth; adults have to urge them every time.
虽然我很累，但睡前还是坚持刷牙了。
Although I was very tired, I still insisted on brushing my teeth before bed.
为了保持口气清新，饭后我会用漱口水漱口，再刷牙。
To keep my breath fresh, I rinse my mouth with mouthwash after meals and then brush my teeth.
他刷牙刷得很用力，医生说这样会伤害牙龈。
He brushes his teeth very hard, and the doctor said this would harm his gums.
我刚拔完智齿，刷牙的时候要特别小心。
I just had my wisdom tooth extracted, so I need to be extra careful when brushing my teeth.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
Daily Routine
- 我每天早上刷牙。
- 你早饭前刷牙还是早饭后刷牙？
- 刷牙很重要。
Dental Health
- 你应该经常刷牙。
- 刷牙可以防止蛀牙。
- 好好刷牙对牙齿好。
Instruction/Request
- 请你去刷牙。
- 孩子们，去刷牙吧！
- 你刷牙了吗？
Describing Actions
- 他在认真刷牙。
- 我正在刷牙。
- 她刷牙刷得很干净。
Travel
- 你带牙刷了吗？
- 酒店提供牙具，包括牙刷和牙膏。
- 我忘记带牙刷了。
대화 시작하기
"你每天刷牙几次？ (How many times do you brush your teeth every day?)"
"你通常什么时候刷牙？ (When do you usually brush your teeth?)"
"你喜欢用什么牙膏？ (What kind of toothpaste do you like to use?)"
"你觉得刷牙重要吗？为什么？ (Do you think brushing teeth is important? Why?)"
"你有没有忘记刷牙的时候？ (Have you ever forgotten to brush your teeth?)"
일기 주제
描述你早上刷牙的过程。 (Describe your morning teeth-brushing routine.)
写一篇关于保持口腔卫生的重要性的日记。 (Write a journal entry about the importance of maintaining oral hygiene.)
如果有一天没有牙刷，你会怎么做？ (What would you do if you didn't have a toothbrush for a day?)
你对牙齿健康有什么看法？ (What are your thoughts on dental health?)
写下你第一次学习刷牙的经历。 (Write about your first experience learning to brush your teeth.)
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문The Chinese phrase for 'to brush teeth' is 刷牙 (shuā yá). It literally means 'to brush' (刷) and 'tooth' (牙).
刷牙 (shuā yá) is used as a verb phrase, meaning 'to brush teeth'. You use it like you would use 'to brush teeth' in English.
While 刷 (shuā) means 'to brush', when talking about brushing your teeth, it's always followed by 牙 (yá) to make 刷牙 (shuā yá). Saying just 刷 (shuā) wouldn't be clear.
You can use it like this: '我每天刷牙。' (Wǒ měitiān shuā yá.) which means 'I brush my teeth every day.' Or '你刷牙了吗？' (Nǐ shuā yá le ma?) meaning 'Did you brush your teeth?'
Think of 刷 (shuā) as the action of brushing, and 牙 (yá) as the object – your teeth. Practicing saying it aloud and using it in simple sentences will help a lot.
No, 刷牙 (shuā yá) is the standard and most common way to say 'to brush teeth' in Chinese. You won't hear other common phrases for this action.
刷 (shuā) is pronounced 'shwa' (like 'sh' in 'she' followed by 'wah' in 'water'). 牙 (yá) is pronounced 'yah' (like 'y' in 'yes' followed by 'ah' in 'father').
刷 (shuā) is a first tone (high and flat). 牙 (yá) is a second tone (rising tone). So, it's 'shuā yá'.
Yes, 刷 (shuā) can be used for other brushing actions, like 刷鞋 (shuā xié - to brush shoes) or 刷碗 (shuā wǎn - to wash dishes/bowls), but 牙 (yá) specifically refers to teeth.
A 'toothbrush' is 牙刷 (yá shuā) – notice the order is reversed. 'Toothpaste' is 牙膏 (yágāo).
셀프 테스트 54 질문
我每天早上都___。
The sentence means 'I ___ every morning.' '刷牙' (brush teeth) is the most suitable verb here.
你喜欢用什么牙刷___？
The sentence means 'What kind of toothbrush do you like to use to ___?' '刷牙' (brush teeth) fits the context of using a toothbrush.
孩子还小，妈妈帮他___。
The sentence means 'The child is still young, Mom helps him ___.' '刷牙' (brush teeth) is a common activity parents help young children with.
医生说要饭后___。
The sentence means 'The doctor said to ___ after meals.' '刷牙' (brush teeth) is a common dental hygiene recommendation after eating.
晚上睡觉前，我总是会___。
The sentence means 'Before going to bed at night, I always ___.' '刷牙' (brush teeth) is a common routine before sleeping.
你每天___几次？
The sentence means 'How many times do you ___ every day?' '刷牙' (brush teeth) is an action typically quantified by frequency.
我每天早上都_____。
The sentence means 'I do something every morning.' '刷牙' (to brush teeth) is the most fitting action for 'every morning' among the options, following common daily routines.
你_____了吗？
This is a common way to ask if someone has brushed their teeth. The other options don't fit as naturally in this question structure for a common daily routine.
他吃完饭以后喜欢_____。
After eating, '刷牙' (brushing teeth) is a very common and recommended activity for oral hygiene.
为了保持牙齿健康，我们应该每天_____两次。
To keep teeth healthy, we should '刷牙' (brush teeth) twice a day. This is general knowledge about oral hygiene.
小孩子应该学习自己_____。
Children should learn to '刷牙' (brush their teeth) themselves as part of growing up and developing self-care skills. The other options are either too advanced or not directly related to basic self-care.
请你吃完东西后记得_____。
After eating something, it's important to '刷牙' (brush your teeth) to clean them and prevent cavities. The other options are not directly related to dental hygiene after eating.
Listen to the sentence and understand the daily routine.
Listen to the sentence and understand the benefit of brushing teeth.
Listen to the question.
Read this aloud:
我需要刷牙。
Focus: shuā yá
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
刷牙是早上的第一件事。
Focus: dì yī jiàn shì
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
请问，您刷牙了吗？
Focus: qǐng wèn
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You wake up and are getting ready for school/work. Write 2-3 sentences about what you do first thing in the morning. Try to use "刷牙" (shuāyá) naturally.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我早上七点起床。起床后，我先去刷牙和洗脸，然后吃早饭。 (I wake up at 7 AM. After getting up, I first go to brush my teeth and wash my face, then eat breakfast.)
Your friend asks about your daily hygiene routine. Describe two things you do every morning to stay fresh. Make sure to include "刷牙" (shuāyá).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我每天早上都会刷牙。有时候我也会洗澡，这样会感觉很清爽。 (Every morning I brush my teeth. Sometimes I also take a shower, so I feel very refreshed.)
Imagine you are teaching a child about good dental habits. Write a simple sentence telling them when to brush their teeth.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
小朋友，记住每天早晚都要刷牙，保护你的牙齿！ (Little friend, remember to brush your teeth every morning and evening to protect your teeth!)
为什么小明决定每天认真刷牙？ (Why did Xiao Ming decide to brush his teeth carefully every day?)
Read this passage:
小明不喜欢刷牙。他的妈妈告诉他，如果他不好好刷牙，他的牙齿就会生病。小明听了妈妈的话，决定以后每天都认真刷牙。 (Xiao Ming doesn't like brushing his teeth. His mother told him that if he doesn't brush his teeth well, his teeth will get sick. Xiao Ming listened to his mother and decided to brush his teeth carefully every day from now on.)
为什么小明决定每天认真刷牙？ (Why did Xiao Ming decide to brush his teeth carefully every day?)
文章中提到妈妈告诉他不好好刷牙牙齿就会生病，所以小明决定好好刷牙。 (The passage mentions that his mother told him his teeth would get sick if he didn't brush them well, so Xiao Ming decided to brush his teeth properly.)
文章中提到妈妈告诉他不好好刷牙牙齿就会生病，所以小明决定好好刷牙。 (The passage mentions that his mother told him his teeth would get sick if he didn't brush them well, so Xiao Ming decided to brush his teeth properly.)
根据这段话，我们应该多久刷牙一次？ (According to this passage, how often should we brush our teeth?)
Read this passage:
医生建议我们每天至少刷牙两次，一次在早上，一次在晚上。这样可以保持口腔清洁，预防蛀牙。 (Doctors recommend that we brush our teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. This can keep our mouths clean and prevent cavities.)
根据这段话，我们应该多久刷牙一次？ (According to this passage, how often should we brush our teeth?)
文章中明确指出“每天至少刷牙两次”。 (The passage clearly states 'brush your teeth at least twice a day'.)
文章中明确指出“每天至少刷牙两次”。 (The passage clearly states 'brush your teeth at least twice a day'.)
关于饭后刷牙，牙医的建议是什么？ (Regarding brushing teeth after meals, what is the dentist's recommendation?)
Read this passage:
吃完饭后马上刷牙对牙齿好吗？有些牙医认为，饭后等30分钟再刷牙会更好，因为食物中的酸性物质会暂时软化牙釉质。 (Is it good for your teeth to brush immediately after eating? Some dentists believe it's better to wait 30 minutes after a meal to brush, because acidic substances in food can temporarily soften tooth enamel.)
关于饭后刷牙，牙医的建议是什么？ (Regarding brushing teeth after meals, what is the dentist's recommendation?)
文章中提到“饭后等30分钟再刷牙会更好”。 (The passage mentions 'it's better to wait 30 minutes after a meal to brush'.)
文章中提到“饭后等30分钟再刷牙会更好”。 (The passage mentions 'it's better to wait 30 minutes after a meal to brush'.)
This sentence asks if someone brushes their teeth every day. The structure is Subject + Frequency + Verb + Object + Question Particle.
This sentence means 'I like to brush my teeth in the morning.' The time phrase '早上' (morning) comes before the verb '刷牙' (to brush teeth).
This sentence indicates an action happening right now: 'He is brushing his teeth.' '正在...呢' is a common structure for ongoing actions.
Choose the correct sentence: My brother brushes his teeth every morning.
In Chinese, the time phrase (每天早上) usually comes after the subject (我哥哥) and before the verb (刷牙).
Which of the following is the most natural way to ask 'Do you remember to brush your teeth before bed?'
The structure '记得 (to remember) + action' is common. The time phrase '睡觉前 (before bed)' typically precedes the verb phrase.
Complete the sentence: 他吃完饭后总是____。
The sentence describes a habitual action, so the simple verb '刷牙' is appropriate. '了', '的', and '过' would change the meaning to completed action, descriptive, or experienced action respectively, which doesn't fit the '总是' (always) context.
The sentence '为了保持口腔健康，每天刷牙两次很重要。' means 'To maintain oral health, brushing teeth twice a day is very important.'
The sentence correctly translates to 'To maintain oral health, brushing teeth twice a day is very important.' '为了' means 'in order to', '保持口腔健康' means 'maintain oral health', '每天刷牙两次' means 'brush teeth twice a day', and '很重要' means 'very important'.
The sentence '他从来不刷牙，所以牙齿很健康。' is grammatically correct and logically sound.
While grammatically correct, the sentence is logically unsound. '他从来不刷牙' means 'He never brushes his teeth'. It's illogical to then say '所以牙齿很健康' (therefore his teeth are very healthy). Brushing teeth is essential for oral health.
In the sentence '我喜欢用电动牙刷刷牙。', '电动牙刷' means 'electric toothbrush'.
'电动' means electric, and '牙刷' means toothbrush, so '电动牙刷' correctly means 'electric toothbrush'.
He insists on brushing his teeth every morning and evening.
The doctor suggests brushing for at least two minutes to prevent cavities.
She always brings her electric toothbrush on business trips for efficient brushing.
Read this aloud:
虽然刷牙是日常生活中的小事，但其重要性不容忽视。
Focus: 刷牙, 重要性, 不容忽视
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
你认为，与传统的刷牙方式相比，电动牙刷有哪些优势？
Focus: 传统, 方式, 优势
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
许多牙医强调，正确的刷牙方法比刷牙的频率更为关键。
Focus: 强调, 方法, 频率, 关键
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes a daily routine and its purpose. '他' (he) is the subject, followed by time phrases '每天' (every day) and '早上' (morning). '都会' indicates a regular action. '刷牙' (brush teeth) is the main action, and '保持 口腔 清洁' (to maintain oral hygiene) is the purpose.
This sentence provides medical advice. '医生' (doctor) is the subject, '建议' (suggests) is the verb. '我们' (we) is the object of the suggestion. '饭后 立即' (immediately after meals) specifies the timing for '刷牙' (brush teeth). '预防 蛀牙' (to prevent cavities) is the purpose.
This sentence expresses a habit despite a condition. '虽然 很晚 了' (Although it's late) sets the condition. '但' (but) introduces the contrasting action. '她' (she) is the subject, '还是 坚持' (still insists on) highlights the persistence. '刷牙' (brush teeth) is the action, followed by '才 睡觉' (before sleeping).
This sentence discusses the potential harm of over-brushing, which can damage tooth enamel.
This sentence talks about the common advice of brushing teeth immediately after meals to maintain oral hygiene.
This sentence expresses a situation where someone still gets cavities despite diligently brushing their teeth every day.
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
관련 콘텐츠
daily_life 관련 단어
朝九晚五
B2From nine to five; regular working hours.
未免
B2Rather; a bit too; truly (implies something excessive).
废弃
B2To abandon; to discard; to cease to use.
恪守
B2To scrupulously observe; to strictly adhere to.
反常
B2abnormal, unusual
充裕
B2Abundant; ample.
充沛
B2Abundant; plentiful; full of energy.
门禁卡
B2Access card; entry card.
门禁
B2Access control (system).
配件
B2Fittings; accessories; spare parts.
