1.
toothpick — a small pointed stick of wood (or sometimes plastic) used to clean between the teeth or to pick up small pieces of food
An everyday item commonly found at Japanese restaurants and in households. The word is written in kanji as 爪楊枝 but is very often written in hiragana as つまようじ or even shortened to 楊枝 in casual speech.
An everyday household and restaurant item. Often written in hiragana (つまようじ) in casual contexts. In speech the kanji compound 楊枝 is also common, especially in older or more traditional phrasing.
Usage
- In Japanese restaurants, a small container of toothpicks is usually provided near the register or on the table.
- There is a cultural expectation to cover the mouth with one hand when using a toothpick in public.
- Also commonly used as a skewer-like tool for tasting test (試食) samples or for checking doneness in cooking.
Common collocations
- 爪楊枝を使う: to use a toothpick
- 爪楊枝で刺す: to poke with a toothpick
- 爪楊枝を取る: to take a toothpick
- 爪楊枝の先: the tip of a toothpick
Similar words
- 楊枝: shorter form of the same word; also covers broader dental-stick tools.
- 串: skewer — longer and used for grilling or serving food.
- デンタルフロス: dental floss — a modern alternative for cleaning between teeth.
Related Words
Compare:
串 (skewer)