Idioms using the word "歯 (teeth)"

・歯Haがga 立たないtatanai(It's too hard to bite)
・歯Haをwo 食いしばるkuishibaru(To clench one’s teeth)
・歯切れHagireがga いいii (Describes the sensation of low resistance and a crisp, satisfying bite when chewing food)
・歯Haにni 絹kinu 着せぬkisenu(Do not hide one’s teeth with one’s clothes)
・Hadomeがga きかないkikanai(A situation where the brakes are not functioning)

慣用句（idiom） are expressions that combine two or more words to create a different meaning.

The meaning is completely different from the original words, so it is useful to know idioms. 

Idioms often use words related to the body, such as “hand (te)” and “leg (ashi ).” This month, let’s learn some useful idioms that use the word teeth(ha ).”

 

The meaning of ha ga tatanai is “a person is too competent for me to compete with them” or “this problem is too difficult for me to solve.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～B is speaking with his friend, A.～
  
  A: 昨日kinouのno　サッカーsoccerのno　試合shiai、どうだった dōdatta(How did your soccer game go yesterday?)？
  B: とてもTotemo　強いtsuyoi　チームteamでde、全然zenzen　歯haがga 立たなかったtatanakattaよyo… (They were such a strong team; we didn’t stand a chance. )。

 

The meaning of ha wo kuishibaru is “to endure and put up with difficult or painful situations.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～B is speaking with his friend, A.～
  
  A: 試験shiken合格gōkaku、おめでとうomedetou (Congratulations on passing your exam!)！
  B: ありがとうarigatou (Thank you.)。去年kyonen、合格gōkakuできなかったからdekinakattakara、今年kotoshiはwa　歯haをwo 食いしばってkuishibatte、頑張ったんだganbattanda(Since I didn’t pass last year, I clenched my teeth and gave it my all this year.)。

 

The meaning of ha gire ga ii is “having a clear message and speaking in a way that is easy to understand.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～A is speaking with his senior co-worker, B.～
  
  A: さっきsakkiのno　会議kaigiのno　説明setsumei、とてもtotemo　緊張kinchōしてしまいましたshiteshimaimashita (I was really nervous during the presentation at the meeting earlier.)。どうでしたかdōdeshitaka (How did you think it went?)。
  B: 歯切れhagireがga よくてyokute、とてもtotemo　わかりやすかったwakariyasukattaとto思うよomouyo (I thought it was very clear and easy to understand.)。

 

The meaning of ha ni kinu kisenu is “to speak directly without holding back.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～A is speaking with his co-worker, B.～
  
  A: C先輩senpaiのno　歯haにni 衣kinu 着せぬkisenu　言い方iikataはwa、かっこいいよねkakkoiiyone (Mr. C’s straightforward way of speaking is pretty cool, isn't it?)。
  B: いつもitsumo、みんなminnaがga　思っていることomotteirukotoをwo　言ってくれてittekurete、私たちwatashitachiもmo　助かるtasukaruよねyone (Mr. C always says what everyone is thinking, which really helps us out, doesn't it? )。

 

The meaning of hadome ga kikanai is “to be unable to stop one’s actions or feelings.”

• Let's Try It Out!
  ～B is speaking with her friend, A.～
  
  A: またmata　新しいatarashii　服fuku　買うのkauno (Are you going to buy clothes again?)？　そんなにsonnani　買ってkatte、お金okaneはwa　大丈夫daijōbu (Are you sure you can afford to buy that much?)？
  B: そうなんだけどsōnandakedo… 。SNSでde　見るとmiruto、ほしくなってhoshikunatte、歯止めhadomeがga きかないkikanaiんだよねndayone (I know, but whenever I see things on social media, I just end up wanting them, and I can’t stop myself.)。