小口
Meanings
cut end; edge of a page
A physical term for an exposed cut face or edge, especially the cut end of wood or the outer edge of a book's pages.
There is a slight stain on the edge of the book's pages.
I applied a protective coating to the cut end of the wood.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
small amount; small quantity; small sum
Used for relatively small transactions, orders, lots, loans, or sums of money. Often contrasts with 大口, a large-scale or big-ticket amount.
Antonyms: 大口 (おおぐち)
We also handle small orders.
They collected many small donations.
Rare use for the start of something or a clue that opens the way forward. In modern Japanese, 糸口 is much more usual for this meaning.
In this usage, 小口 means the beginning of something or a clue.
dangerous place; jaws of death; tiger's den
Rare or variant use connected with 虎口, literally a tiger's mouth and figuratively a perilous place or deadly situation. This is not the everyday sense of 小口.
See also: 虎口
When 小口 is used in the sense of 虎口, it refers to a dangerous place or the jaws of death.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉の小口the cut edge or exposed end of something (e.g. a book)
The edges of the book are decorated with gold.
- 小口で〈動詞〉to do something in small amounts or small lots
Individual investors often buy stocks in small lots.