‘牙刷’ literally means ‘tooth brush’ — ‘牙’ (yá) means ‘tooth’ or ‘dental’, and ‘刷’ (shuā) is the verb ‘to brush’. Together, they form a compound noun meaning ‘toothbrush’, the handheld tool used to clean teeth and gums. It’s a common household item in daily oral hygiene routines.

This word is neutral in register and used across all age groups and contexts — from buying one at a store to discussing dental care with a doctor. While ‘牙刷’ refers specifically to the physical object, it can also appear in compound terms like ‘电动牙刷’ (diàndòng yáshuā, electric toothbrush) or ‘儿童牙刷’ (értóng yáshuā, children’s toothbrush). Unlike some nouns, it doesn’t require a measure word in general statements (e.g., ‘我用牙刷’), but when counting, you’ll use ‘把’ (bǎ) — as in ‘一把牙刷’.