口くちの利きき方かた

Meanings

expression, noun

the way one talks; one's way of speaking

Refers to a person's manner of speaking, often implying tone, politeness, or choice of words.

彼かれは口くちの利きき方かたが乱らん暴ぼうだ。
He has a rough way of talking.
目め上うえの人ひとに対たいする口くちの利きき方かたを教おしえる。
Teach how to speak to superiors.

See all 5 example sentences ›

Kanji

口mouth
利profit, advantage, benefit
方direction, person, alternative
効merit, efficacy, efficiency

Related words

話はなし方かた
話し方 is a more general term for 'way of speaking' or 'speech style', while 口の利き方 often carries a nuance about the appropriateness or tone of one's speech, especially in social contexts.

Built from

口くち+利きき+方かた

Written forms

口くちの利きき方かた
Standard kanji spelling.
口くちのきき方かた
Common mixed kana-kanji spelling.
口くちの効きき方かた
Alternate kanji for きく; less common.

Etymology

Compound of 口 (mouth) + の (possessive particle) + 利き方 (way of using/working), from 利く (to be effective, to function). The phrase literally means 'the way one's mouth works', referring to one's manner of speaking.