Translation and Meaning of: 口 - kuchi
The Japanese word 口[くち] is one of those that every Japanese language learner encounters early on, but it carries much more meaning than it seems at first glance. In this article, we will explore everything from its basic meaning to cultural curiosities and practical uses in everyday life in Japan. If you want to understand how this word functions in different contexts or even memorize it more easily, keep reading.
In addition to being an essential term for communication, 口[くち] appears in various expressions and even reflects aspects of Japanese culture. Here at Suki Nihongo, our detailed dictionary helps you uncover these meanings clearly. Let’s start with the basics and move on to details that few materials tend to explain.
Meaning and Everyday Use of 口 [くち]
In its simplest form, 口[くち] means "mouth" in Japanese. It is a common noun used to refer to a part of the body, but it also appears in broader contexts. For example, it can indicate the entrance of a place, as in 瓶の口[びんのくち] (mouth of the bottle), or even the act of speaking, as in the expression 口がうまい (to be persuasive).
What’s interesting is that, unlike Portuguese, Japanese uses 口[くち] in situations that go beyond the literal. In restaurants, you might hear 口に合う (to suit one's taste), demonstrating how the word is linked to taste and culinary experience. This type of metaphorical use is common and helps to understand why 口[くち] is so frequent in the language.
Origin and writing of the kanji 口
The kanji 口 is one of the oldest and simplest in the Japanese language, with only three strokes. Its origin dates back to archaic Chinese characters, where it visually represented an opening or entrance. Interestingly, this same kanji is also used as a radical in other characters related to actions of the mouth, such as 食べる (to eat) or 叫ぶ (to shout).
A helpful tip for memorization is to associate the square shape of the kanji 口 with the idea of an open mouth. Although it is not an absolute rule, many students find this mental image effective. Furthermore, the fact that it is one of the first kanjis taught in basic courses makes it easier to recognize even for beginners.
Mouth [くち] in Japanese culture and expressions
In Japan, the word 口[くち] goes beyond the physical and acquires interesting cultural meanings. Expressions like 口が重い (to be reserved) or 口を出す (to interfere) show how the concept of "mouth" is linked to communication and social behavior. These phrases are common in daily life and reflect values such as discretion and respect.
Another curious aspect is the use of 口[くち] in professional contexts. In stores and businesses, terms like 口コミ (word of mouth) are essential for understanding informal Japanese marketing. Even in animes and dramas, you will notice how this small word carries meanings that help to create natural and culturally authentic dialogues.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 口紅 (kuchibeni) - Lipstick
- 口腔 (kōkō) - Oral cavity
- 口径 (kōkei) - Exit diameter (of a tube or pipe)
- 口調 (kuchichō) - Voice tone
- 口笛 (kuchibue) - Whistle
- 口当たり (kuchi-atari) - Flavor (in the mouth, when eating or drinking)
- 口癖 (kuchiguse) - Habit of speaking (or slang used frequently)
- 口数 (kuchikazu) - Number of words (or speech)
Related words
Romaji: kuchi
Kana: くち
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5
Translation / Meaning: mouth; hole; Opening
Meaning in English: mouth;orifice;opening
Definition: The organ that produces speech.
Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (口) kuchi
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (口) kuchi:
Example Sentences - (口) kuchi
See below some example sentences:
Madoguchi de chiketto wo kaimashita
I bought a ticket at the counter.
Bought a ticket at the counter.
- 窓口 (madoguchi) - counter
- で (de) - in
- チケット (chiketto) - Ticket
- を (wo) - direct object
- 買いました (kaimashita) - I bought
Watashi wa itsumo kuchizusamu uta ga arimasu
I always have a song that I sing.
I always have a song to hum.
- 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
- は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
- いつも (itsumo) - Japanese adverb meaning "always"
- 口ずさむ (kuchizusamu) - Japanese verb that means "to hum"
- 歌 (uta) - Japanese noun meaning "song"
- が (ga) - Japanese particle that marks the subject of the sentence, in this case, "song".
- あります (arimasu) - Japanese verb that means "exist", in this case, "exists"
Waruguchi o iwanaide kudasai
Please do not speak ill of others.
Don't say bad words.
- 悪口 - means "bad words" or "offensive language".
- を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
- 言わないで - negative form of the verb "to say" in the imperative, meaning "don't say".
- ください - polite form of the verb "to give", which indicates a request or demand.
- で - particle that indicates the place or means by which something is done.
Jinkou ga fueru
The population is increasing.
The population increases.
- 人口 - population
- が - subject particle
- 増える - increase
Jinkou ga masu
The population is increasing.
The population increases.
- 人口 - "population" in Japanese.
- が - is a grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
- 増す - it is a verb that means "to increase" or "to grow".
Jinkou ga fuete iru
The population is increasing.
The population is increasing.
- 人口 - "population" in Japanese.
- が - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
- 増えている - verb "to increase" conjugated in the present continuous, indicating an ongoing action.
Kono chiiki no jinkou bunpu wa kintou de wa arimasen
The population distribution in this region is not uniform.
The population distribution in this area is not equal.
- この - Japanese word meaning "this"
- 地域 - Japanese word meaning "region"
- の - Japanese particle indicating possession or belonging
- 人口 - Japanese word meaning "population"
- 分布 - Japanese word meaning "distribution"
- は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
- 均等 - Japanese word meaning "uniform" or "the same"
- で - Japanese particle indicating the means or method
- は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
- ありません - Japanese verb meaning "does not exist" or "is not"
Kono chiiki wa misshū shita jinkō mitsudo o motte imasu
This area has a dense population density.
This area has a dense population density.
- この - this
- 地域 - region
- は - is
- 密集した - densely populated
- 人口密度 - population density
- を - of
- 持っています - have
Iriguchi wa doko desu ka?
Where is the entrance?
Where is the entrance?
- 入口 (nyūkō) - Prohibited
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- どこ (doko) - Where
- ですか (desu ka) - polite way of asking
Deguchi wa kochira desu
Here is the entrance.
- 出入り口 (shutteiguchi) - Input and output
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- こちら (kochira) - here, in this place
- です (desu) - Verb to be/estar
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
