爪楊枝（つまようじ、tsumayouji）
- toothpick

爪楊枝 refers to a toothpick. It is a small, slender stick used for removing food particles from between the teeth after eating. It is typically made of wood, bamboo, or plastic.

⚫︎ 食後に爪楊枝を使います。 Translation: I use a toothpick after meals. ⚫︎ レストランで爪楊枝をもらいました。 Translation: I received a toothpick at the restaurant. ⚫︎ 歯の間に食べ物が挟まったので、爪楊枝を取り出した。 Translation: I took out a toothpick because food got stuck between my teeth.

You use 爪楊枝 after eating to remove food debris from your teeth. It is considered polite to cover your mouth with your hand while using it in public to avoid being impolite. You would offer a 爪楊枝 to someone if they have something stuck in their teeth, or you see them struggling with something caught between their teeth.

爪楊枝 is typically written in kanji as 爪楊枝, with the reading つまようじ in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana (送りがな), the hiragana that follow the kanji, is fixed as 楊枝.

There are no direct synonyms for 爪楊枝 in Japanese. The term itself is very specific.

There are no direct antonyms for 爪楊枝 as it is a specific tool. The concept of not using a toothpick could be considered an opposite action.

食事が終わった後、爪楊枝を使って歯をきれいにしました。 ・Translation: After the meal finished, I used a toothpick to clean my teeth. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the action of using a toothpick after finishing a meal to clean one's teeth.

レストランでは、会計の後に爪楊枝が提供されることがあります。 ・Translation: In restaurants, toothpicks are sometimes provided after the bill. ・Explanation: This sentence explains that restaurants often provide toothpicks to customers after they have finished eating and paid.

The word 爪楊枝 is a compound word. 爪 tsume means "nail" or "claw," referring to the small size. 楊枝 youji refers to a small, slender stick, often used for cleaning the teeth. Therefore,爪楊枝 literally means "nail stick" or "small stick," accurately describing its appearance and function. The origin is linked to the historical practice of using small sticks or similar objects for personal hygiene, including cleaning the teeth.