How to Write 龈 (kěn/yín) — Meaning “gums”

Imagine the left side 齿 as a row of teeth, and the right side 艮 as a person sitting down to eat. The gums are the soft part that holds the teeth in place while you chew — think of "ken" like "can" as in "your teeth can't work without gums."

Write the left radical 齿 first: start with the top horizontal, then the vertical strokes inside. For the right part 艮, be careful not to confuse it with 良 — the stroke order for 艮 ends with a left-falling stroke and a right-falling stroke. Keep the left and right parts balanced, with the left slightly narrower.

龈 means gums and is used in dental terms like 牙龈 (gums). 龃 (jǔ) means uneven teeth or a clash, and appears in the word 龃龉 (disagreement). 龄 (líng) means age and is used in words like 年龄 (age). Visually, the right parts differ: 艮, 且, and 令 respectively.

龈 is mostly used in medical or oral health contexts, such as 牙龈 (gums), 龈炎 (gingivitis), and 牙龈出血 (bleeding gums). It is not a common everyday character, but it is important for describing dental care. In Chinese culture, healthy gums are associated with strong teeth and overall wellness.

Common words containing 龈 include: 牙龈 (yá yín) — gums; 龈炎 (kěn yán) — gingivitis; gum inflammation; 牙龈肉 (yá yín ròu) — gum tissue.