親知(おやし)らず

おやしらず
noun
wisdom tooth
body-parthealth
1. wisdom tooth
A third molar tooth, the last teeth to emerge in the back of the mouth, typically appearing in late adolescence or early adulthood. Often associated with dental problems requiring extraction.
親知(おやし)らずが生(は)えてきた。
My wisdom tooth is coming in.
親知(おやし)らずを抜(ぬ)いてもらった。
I had my wisdom tooth pulled.
下(した)の親知(おやし)らずが横向(よこむ)きに生(は)えていて、痛(いた)みがある。
My lower wisdom tooth is growing in sideways and it hurts.
歯医者(はいしゃ)に親知(おやし)らずの抜歯(ばっし)を勧(すす)められたが、怖(こわ)くてまだ決(き)められない。
The dentist recommended extracting my wisdom tooth, but I'm scared and can't decide yet.

Literally "親(おや)が知(し)らない歯(は)" — "the tooth the parent doesn't know about," because wisdom teeth emerge after a child has grown up and left parental oversight. This folk etymology gives the word a distinctly Japanese flavor compared to the English "wisdom tooth" (which emphasizes the age of wisdom).

Wisdom tooth extraction (親知(おやし)らずの抜歯(ばっし)) is a common topic of conversation in Japan, as with many cultures. The teeth frequently cause problems by growing in at an angle (横向(よこむ)きに生(は)える) or becoming impacted.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 奥歯(おくば): back tooth, molar — a broader term for any molar, not just wisdom teeth
  • 乳歯(にゅうし): baby tooth, milk tooth — the teeth that fall out in childhood, a different stage of dental development
  • 永久歯(えいきゅうし): permanent tooth — the adult teeth that replace baby teeth

Related Words

Related: 抜歯(ばっし) (tooth extraction)
general
Added 2026.4.12 23:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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