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.
親知らずが生えてきた。
My wisdom tooth is coming in.
親知らずを抜いてもらった。
I had my wisdom tooth pulled.
下の親知らずが横向きに生えていて、痛みがある。
My lower wisdom tooth is growing in sideways and it hurts.
歯医者に親知らずの抜歯を勧められたが、怖くてまだ決められない。
The dentist recommended extracting my wisdom tooth, but I'm scared and can't decide yet.
Literally "親が知らない歯" — "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 (親知らずの抜歯) is a common topic of conversation in Japan, as with many cultures. The teeth frequently cause problems by growing in at an angle (横向きに生える) or becoming impacted.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 親知らずを抜く: to extract a wisdom tooth
- 親知らずが生える: a wisdom tooth comes in
- 親知らずが痛い: one's wisdom tooth hurts
- 親知らずの抜歯: wisdom tooth extraction
- 上の親知らず / 下の親知らず: upper / lower wisdom tooth
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 奥歯: back tooth, molar — a broader term for any molar, not just wisdom teeth
- 乳歯: baby tooth, milk tooth — the teeth that fall out in childhood, a different stage of dental development
- 永久歯: permanent tooth — the adult teeth that replace baby teeth