刷牙

You use it just like a verb-object phrase. You can say 我要去刷牙 (I am going to brush my teeth). If you want to be specific, you can add a duration. For example, 刷三分钟牙 (brush teeth for three minutes). Notice how the time goes in the middle! It is a very flexible phrase for daily life.

Use it every morning and every night. Use it when you are talking to your family or roommates. You might tell a friend you need a minute because you just finished eating. It is perfectly fine to use in casual conversations. It is also common when discussing health or dentist visits.

Do not use it if you are just rinsing your mouth. That is 漱口. Do not use it for cleaning other things. If you are scrubbing a floor, you use 刷地, not 刷牙. It is strictly for your pearly whites. Using it elsewhere would sound very confusing and a bit funny.

In China, many people carry travel toothbrushes for long train rides. You will see people 刷牙 in public sinks at train stations. It is a sign of being well-groomed and polite. Recently, electric toothbrushes have become a huge trend in Chinese social media. Everyone wants that perfect, white 'influencer' smile these days.

You will often hear 洗牙, which means a professional dental cleaning. If someone says 刷我的脸, they are joking about 'brushing' their face with filters. But for the actual act, 刷牙 remains the undisputed king. It is one of the first phrases Chinese kids learn. You will hear parents shouting it every single morning!