牙齿 (yáchǐ): tooth

Measure Word

一颗牙齿 kē

你应该每天刷牙齿。

Nǐ yīnggāi měitiān shuāyá chǐ.

You should brush your teeth every day.

他的牙齿很白。

Tā de yáchǐ hěn bái.

His teeth are very white.

usage

In daily speech, 牙 alone is more common than 牙齿. 牙齿 is slightly more formal or specific. 刷牙 (brush teeth) always uses 牙, not 牙齿.

memory

Both characters mean 'tooth' — 牙 is the common word and 齿 is the literary/classical form. Together they reinforce the meaning.

牙 yá

齿 chǐ