口くち利きき

く

ち

き

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

The main modern use: arranging an introduction, speaking on someone's behalf, or using one's connections to help something happen. In politics or business it can imply questionable influence or intervention.

知ち人じんの口くち利ききで、面めん接せつの機き会かいをもらった。
Through an acquaintance's help, I got a chance to interview.
政せい治じ家かの口くち利ききがあったとして、契けい約やくの経けい緯いが調ちょう査さされた。
The circumstances of the contract were investigated on suspicion that a politician had intervened.

noun

influential person; person whose word carries weight

Less common as a standalone noun than the mediation sense. Refers to someone with enough influence or connections to make arrangements, close to 顔利き.

祖そ父ふは地じ元もとではちょっとした口くち利ききで、役やく所しょにも顔かおが利きいた。
My grandfather was a person of some influence locally and had connections at city hall as well.

noun

way of speaking; eloquence; eloquent person

archaic

Archaic speech-related use. The original sense was a person's manner of speaking, and it could also refer to eloquence or an eloquent speaker; modern Japanese normally uses other words for these meanings.

古ふるい文ぶん章しょうでは、「口くち利きき」が話はなし方かたや弁べん舌ぜつの巧たくみさを指さすことがある。
In old writing, 口利き can refer to one's manner of speaking or skill in speech.

See all 11 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉に口くち利ききを頼たのむto ask someone to put in a good word for you
部ぶ長ちょうに口くち利ききを頼たのんだ。
I asked the department manager to intercede on my behalf.
〈人ひと〉の口くち利ききでthrough the intercession/connections of someone
知ち人じんの口くち利ききで仕し事ごとが見みつかった。
I found a job through an acquaintance's connections.
口くち利ききをするto act as a go-between; to mediate
彼かれはいつも人ひとのために口くち利ききをする。
He always acts as a go-between for others.
口くち利きき疑ぎ惑わくallegations of improper political mediation/influence peddling
その議ぎ員いんは口くち利きき疑ぎ惑わくで辞じ任にんした。
The lawmaker resigned over allegations of improper mediation.

Kanji

口mouth
利profit, advantage, benefit

Related words

仲ちゅう介かいN1sense 1
仲介 is a neutral, formal term for mediating between two parties, while 口利き often implies using personal connections or influence, sometimes with a shady undertone.
顔かお利きき sense 2
顔利き specifically names a well-connected, influential person, matching the less common second sense of 口利き.
口くち添ぞえ sense 1
口添え means putting in a good word for someone and usually sounds purely favorable, whereas 口利き can carry a hint of behind-the-scenes influence.
斡あっ旋せんN1sense 1
斡旋 is a more formal, businesslike word for arranging something (like a job or deal) through mediation, while 口利き is more colloquial and personal.
請せい託たく
口利き describes using one's connections to intervene on someone's behalf, very close to 請託 but usually describes the act of the intermediary rather than the request itself.

Built from

口くち+利きき

Written forms

口くち利ききUsage100%
Standard and high-priority spelling for the modern meanings of mediation, intercession, and influence.
口くちきき
Mixed-kana spelling given; less common than 口利き but understandable in the same meanings.

Etymology

A nominal form of 口を利く, “to speak on someone’s behalf or mediate.” It consequently came to denote mediation, influence exercised through speech, and a person able to exercise such influence.