口
mouth
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
- ク
Kun'yomi
- くち
Meaning
口 centers on the mouth as an opening: the physical mouth, and by extension any opening or entrance that resembles one.
Most common words using 口
24 of 825- 口くちN5
mouth
- 人口じんこうN4
population
- 口座こうざN3
account (e.g. bank)
- 出口でぐちN5
exit; way out
- 入り口いりぐちN5
entrance; entry; gate; approach; mouth
- 窓口まどぐちN3
counter; window; teller window; ticket window
- 悪口わるぐちN3
(verbal) abuse; speaking ill of people; bad-mouthing; name-calling; slander; abusive language; insulting remarks
- 悪口あっこうN1
(verbal) abuse; name-calling; abusive language; insulting remarks
- 河口かこうN1
mouth of river; estuary
- 口調くちょう
tone (of voice); manner of talking
- 手口てぐちN1
modus operandi; criminal technique; trick
- 口径こうけい
aperture; bore; calibre; caliber
- 口コミくちコミ
word of mouth
- 口癖くちぐせN3
pet saying; favorite phrase; stock phrase; catchphrase
- 西口にしぐち
west entrance; west exit
- 東口ひがしぐち
east entrance; east exit
- 口実こうじつN2
excuse; pretext
- 大口おおぐち
big mouth; mouth opened wide
- 無口むくちN2
taciturn; reticent; quiet; silent; untalkative
- 口論こうろんN2
quarrel; argument; row; (verbal) dispute
- 口紅くちべにN3
lipstick
- 口出しくちだしN1
meddling (in); butting in; interference; poking one's nose into
- 北口きたぐち
north entrance; north exit
- 口頭こうとうN1
oral; verbal; spoken; parol
Study
Etymology
口 is a pictograph of an open mouth. The modern square form preserves the simple outline.
Meaning mnemonic
The square shape looks like an open mouth. Picture a wide-open mouth saying 'ahh'.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a mouth opening wide to say 'ko' as in 'koala': ko -> コウ, and the mouth shape matches the square.