About
The character for "gums" or "to gnaw" presents a clear example of phonetic and semantic construction in Chinese writing, where its traditional form 齦 is built from the semantic component 齒, meaning "tooth" or "teeth", combined with 艮, which primarily serves as a phonetic indicator suggesting its pronunciation but also carries a connotation of stopping or resistance, possibly alluding to the action of teeth meeting an object. Over time, the core meaning settled on the anatomical "gums", the flesh surrounding the teeth, while the verb sense of "gnawing" became less common in modern usage. In its simplified iteration, 龈, the complex tooth radical 齒 is replaced by the simpler 龰, though the phonetic component 艮 remains, preserving the character's essential linguistic identity while streamlining its form.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的牙龈很健康。
刷牙可以保护牙龈。
如果牙龈出血，要看牙医。
健康的牙龈应该是粉红色的。
每天使用牙线清洁牙龈。
不注意口腔卫生会导致牙龈炎。
定期检查牙齿和牙龈能预防许多疾病。
牙龈萎缩可能是牙周病的早期症状之一。