口
[kɯ̟]
kuchi is the Japanese word for mouth.
The primary meaning of 口 is the anatomical mouth, the part of the face used for eating and speaking. Beyond this, it is also used metaphorically to refer to an entrance or an opening of a place, such as the entrance to a street or a tunnel.
Did you know?
- The word kuchi can be used to count people in a household, such as in the expression kuchi ga ooii, which literally means 'there are many mouths'.
- When counting certain objects like bottles or wells, the counter 口 is used. In these cases, it functions as a counter for openings or mouths of vessels.
- In Japanese surnames, the character 口 often appears as a suffix or prefix, such as in 'Iriguchi' or 'Yamaguchi'. It can denote a specific location or a physical boundary.
Examples in context
- お口の中に入れてからお話してください。Please put it in your mouth before speaking.
- 口を開けたまま笑わないでください。Please don't laugh with your mouth open.
- 口を閉じてください。kuchi o tojite kudasai.Please close your mouth.
- 彼は口がとても大きいです。kare wa kuchi ga totemo ookii desu.He has a very large mouth.
- 口に合うと嬉しいです。kuchi ni au to ureshii desu.I hope it suits your taste.
Example conversation
Yui is helping Ren eat a snack.
- 結衣 Yui蓮、口を開けて。Ren, kuchi o akete.Ren, open your mouth.
- 蓮 Renあーん。Aan.Ahh.
- 結衣 Yui口の横にソースがついているよ。Kuchi no yoko ni sōsu ga tsuite iru yo.You have some sauce on the side of your mouth.
- 蓮 Ren本当だ、ありがとう。Hontō da, arigatō.You're right, thanks.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 口, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
