齦 (kěn) - Gums — the firm tissue that surrounds the & also used in the context of gnawing or

齦Tone 3

kěn ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

俊梁

齦 · kěn

Gums — the firm tissue that surrounds the necks of teeth and covers the alveolar parts of the jaws;

also used in the context of gnawing or biting.

Gums — the firm tissue that surrounds thealso used in the context of gnawing or

Usage highlights

GumsGingivitisGum diseaseGum bleedingGum recessionGnaw

Synonyms

  • 牙龈— gums (more common term)
  • 牙床— gums (literally 'tooth bed')

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I need to see a dentist for my bleeding gums (牙龈).
  • Proper oral hygiene helps prevent gum disease (牙龈疾病).
  • The dog was gnawing on a bone (啃骨头).

Collocations

  • Gums(牙龈)
  • Gingivitis(牙龈炎)
  • Gum disease(牙龈病)
  • Gum bleeding(牙龈出血)
  • Gum recession(牙龈萎缩)
  • Gnaw(啃齦)

Idioms

  • To gnaw at books(啃齦书本)
  • To gnaw and bite(齦啃)
  • Gums and teeth(齦齿)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, gum health is seen as connected to the stomach and kidney meridians.
  • The character appears more frequently in medical/dental contexts than in everyday language.
  • The radical 齒 (tooth) clearly indicates its semantic field related to dental anatomy.

FAQ