口くち八はっ丁ちょう

く

ち

は

っ

ちょ

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun

smooth talker; glib; eloquent

Often implies a person who is quick with words, sometimes with a negative nuance of being too smooth or talkative. Commonly used in the phrase 口八丁手八丁 (くちはっちょうてはっちょう), meaning someone who is both a smooth talker and handy with their hands.

彼かれは口くち八

はっ

丁ちょう

で

、

どんな

場ば

で

も

うまく

話はな

す

。

He's a smooth talker and can speak well in any situation.

口くち八はっ丁ちょう手て八はっ丁ちょうの彼かれは、営えい業ぎょう成せい績せきがトップだ。

He's both a smooth talker and a skilled worker, and his sales performance is top.

Kanji

口mouth
八eight, eight radical (no. 12)
丁street, ward, town

Related words

口くち達だっ者しゃ
口達者 also means eloquent or talkative, but 口八丁 often carries a stronger nuance of being glib or slick, and is frequently paired with 手八丁.
能のう弁べん
能弁 is a more formal term for eloquence, without the negative or colloquial nuance of 口八丁.

Word family

口くち八はっ丁ちょう手て八はっ丁ちょう
both eloquent and skilled; smooth-talking and dexterous
手て八はっ丁ちょう口くち八はっ丁ちょう
eloquent and skilled; good with both words and actions

Built from

口くち+八はっ丁ちょう

Etymology

Formed from 口, “mouth; speech,” and 八丁, an expression indicating exceptional skill or dexterity. It denotes verbal adroitness and commonly occurs in 口八丁手八丁.