口
mouth
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph depicting an open mouth.
Symbolism
Speech, entrance, counter for people. Beginning of communication.
Words & Expressions
Words written with 口
Four-Character Compounds
悪口雑言
あっこうぞうごん
all kinds of malicious gossip; heaping verbal abuse (on); cursing and swearing (words)
異口同音
いくどうおん
(saying) with one voice; unanimously; in chorus
開口一番
かいこういちばん
at the very beginning of one's speech; immediately upon opening one's mouth (to speak); before anything else
鶏口牛後
けいこうぎゅうご
better to be the beak of a rooster than the rump of a bull; better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a large organization; better to be a big fish in a little pond than a little fish in a big pond
閉口頓首
へいこうとんしゅ
being at a complete loss as to what to do; being at one's wit's end; being at a loss for an answer
金口木舌
きんこうぼくぜつ
(public) opinion leader
衆口一致
しゅうこういっち
speaking with one voice; being unanimous
Proverbs & Idioms
口は災いの元
くちはわざわいのもと
The mouth is the source of disaster
Careless words cause trouble
口も八丁手も八丁
くちもはっちょうてもはっちょう
Quick with words and hands
Skilled in both speech and action
Anime & Manga
夏へのトンネル、さよならの出口
The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes
A well-known work with 口 in its Japanese title.
口が裂けても君には
Even If You Slit My Mouth
A well-known work with 口 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
樋口一葉
Name contains 口
Natsuko Higuchi , known by her pen name Higuchi Ichiyō , was a Japanese writer during the Meiji era.
Wikipedia橋口五葉
Name contains 口
Goyō Hashiguchi was a Japanese artist. At the forefront of the shin-hanga movement, a revival of ukiyo-e, he designed fourteen woodblock prints which…
Wikipedia野口米次郎
Name contains 口
Yonejirō Noguchi , also known as Yone Noguchi, was a Japanese writer, poet, essayist and literary critic in both English and Japanese.
Wikipedia田口卯吉
Name contains 口
Taguchi Ukichi was a Japanese historian and Georgist economist of the Meiji period, and one of the foremost proponents of the bunmeishi view of…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 口 mean in Japanese?
口 means mouth.
How do you read 口?
On'yomi: コウ、ク (KOU, KU). Kun'yomi: くち (kuchi).
How many strokes does 口 have?
口 has 3 strokes. Its radical is 口 (mouth).
Is 口 a good kanji for a tattoo?
口 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means mouth. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:mouth