口 — Kanji Reference

口 (mouth, opening): 3 strokes, JLPT N5. On: コウ、ク. Kun: くち.

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口

Property Value
Meaning mouth, opening
Strokes 3
JLPT Level N5
On-reading (音読み) コウ、ク
Kun-reading (訓読み) くち
Radical 口 (くち・くちへん) U+53E3

Stroke Order

The character 口 is written in 3 strokes following the rule of top-to-bottom and left-to-right:

  1. Stroke 1: The left vertical line, starting from the top and moving down.
  2. Stroke 2: The top horizontal line, which turns into the right vertical line (a single continuous motion).
  3. Stroke 3: The bottom horizontal line, closing the box from left to right.

Radical Analysis

The kanji 口 is a pictograph representing an open mouth. It is a fundamental radical (部首: kuchi) that appears in many kanji related to speech, eating, or openings. When it appears on the left side of a character, it is often called kuchi-hen. It serves as a semantic component, indicating that the meaning of the character involves the mouth or an entry/exit point.

Mnemonic

Imagine a simple, square-shaped face with a wide-open mouth. The three strokes form the outline of the lips. Think of it as a "box" that you put food into—your mouth!

On-readings (音読み) with Examples

コウ (Kou)

Word Reading Romaji English
人口 じんこう jinkou population
口頭 こうとう koutou oral/verbal
口語 こうご kougo colloquial language

ク (Ku)

Word Reading Romaji English
口実 こうじつ koujitsu excuse
口内炎 こうないえん kounaien mouth ulcer
異口同音 いくどうおん ikudouon unanimous

Kun-readings (訓読み) with Examples

くち (Kuchi)

Word Reading Romaji English
口 くち kuchi mouth
入口 いりぐち iriguchi entrance
出口 でぐち deguchi exit

JLPT N5 Words Using 口

Word Reading Romaji English JLPT
入口 いりぐち iriguchi entrance N5
出口 でぐち deguchi exit N5
人口 じんこう jinkou population N5
口 くち kuchi mouth N5
改札口 かいさつぐち kaisatsuguchi ticket gate N4
窓口 まどぐち madoguchi counter/window N3
口紅 くちべに kuchibeni lipstick N3
口調 くちょう kuchou tone of voice N2

Example Sentences

Japanese Reading Romaji English
口をあけてください。 くちをあけてください。 Kuchi o akete kudasai. Please open your mouth.
入口はあちらです。 いりぐちはあちらです。 Iriguchi wa achira desu. The entrance is over there.
日本の人口は多いです。 にほんのじんこうはおおいです。 Nihon no jinkou wa ooi desu. Japan's population is large.
彼は口が重いです。 かれはくちがおもいです。 Kare wa kuchi ga omoi desu. He is a man of few words.
出口を探しています。 でぐちをさがしています。 Deguchi o sagashite imasu. I am looking for the exit.
口頭で説明しました。 こうとうでせつめいしました。 Koutou de setsumei shimashita. I explained it verbally.

Common Confusion Pairs

Kanji Reading Meaning How to distinguish
口 くち mouth A simple square representing an opening.
日 ひ / にち sun / day Contains a horizontal line in the middle.
田 た rice field Contains a cross (+) inside the square.

Usage Frequency Note

口 is one of the most frequently used kanji in the Japanese language. It is essential for daily navigation (finding entrances and exits) and is a core component in hundreds of other kanji. It is used in both formal writing and casual speech, making it a high-priority character for all learners.