口

kǒu

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

kǒu (noun) mouth

kǒu (classifier) classifier for things with mouths (people, animals)

kǒu (noun) entrance; exit

Etymology

Pictograph of a mouth.

About

The character 口 is a primary pictograph of an open mouth, drawn with three strokes that form a square enclosure. This shape represents the oral orifice used for eating, speaking, and breathing. Its primary meanings are 'mouth' and 'opening' (like an entrance or exit). As a radical, it is highly productive, appearing in hundreds of characters that indicate mouth-related actions, such as eating, speaking, giving orders, or expressing emotions. It also commonly serves as a measure word for members of a family or household.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我家门口有一棵树。

Wǒ jiā ménkǒu yǒu yī kē shù.

There is a tree at my doorstep.

这个出口在哪里？

Zhège chūkǒu zài nǎlǐ?

Where is this exit?

她的口音很特别。

Tā de kǒuyīn hěn tèbié.

Her accent is very special.

我喜欢这种口味。

Wǒ xǐhuān zhè zhǒng kǒuwèi.

I like this flavor.

他流了很多口水。

Tā liúle hěnduō kǒushuǐ.

He drooled a lot.

我的口袋里有钥匙。

Wǒ de kǒudài lǐ yǒu yàoshi.

There are keys in my pocket.

学习口语很重要。

Xuéxí kǒuyǔ hěn zhòngyào.

Learning spoken language is important.

火山口正在喷发。

Huǒshānkǒu zhèngzài pēnfā.

The volcano crater is erupting.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 口

口