ngaa4 laa3牙罅

Jyutpingngaa4 laa3

Yalengàh la

名詞

Definition

The gap between teeth.

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How it's used

This term is almost exclusively used when referring to food particles getting stuck after a meal. It carries a slightly informal tone, as it is often associated with the act of using a toothpick or dental floss. You will rarely hear it in a formal dental consultation, where professionals might use more clinical terminology.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

nei5你sik6食jyun4完je5嘢，gei3記dak1得liu4撩haa5下ngaa4牙laa3罅aa4呀。

Remember to pick your teeth after you finish eating.

jau5有di1啲je5嘢sip3攝zyu6住zo2咗喺hai2牙ngaa4罅，laa3好hou2唔m4舒syu1服。

Something is stuck in the gap between my teeth, it is so uncomfortable.

Common phrases

liu1撩ngaa4牙laa3罅

to pick one's teeth

sip3攝ngaa4牙laa3罅

to have food stuck between teeth

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with the general word for teeth, 牙. Remember that 牙罅 specifically refers to the space between them, not the teeth themselves.