刷牙 (shuā yá) literally means 'to brush teeth' — 刷 (shuā) means 'to brush, scrub, or wipe', and 牙 (yá) means 'tooth' or 'teeth'. Together, they form a common verb phrase describing the daily hygiene activity of cleaning one’s teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste. It is an essential part of personal care in Chinese-speaking cultures and is frequently taught to children from an early age.

This verb is typically used in the context of routines, health education, and family life. It commonly appears with time expressions (e.g., 早上、睡前), aspect particles (e.g., 了, 过, 正在), or as part of instructions ('Remember to brush your teeth!'). While it can appear as a noun in limited contexts (e.g., 刷牙时间 — 'tooth-brushing time'), its primary and overwhelmingly dominant usage is verbal.