The Japanese Radical: 口


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Meaning
mouth    口

Explanation A small square stands for the mouth, and a big square is an enclosure.

Used in these characters:
JLPT 5Joyo 1
right hand side
migi, U, YŪ
Left: hand ナ/ヨ (Shows a hand ナ with the forearm at the right and three fingers to the left.), right: mouth
The hand for the mouth (= you eat with) is the: right.  
JLPT 5Joyo 1
mouth, opening
kuchi, KŌ, KU

A mouth wide open.  
JLPT 3Joyo 1
stone, rock
ishi, SEKI, SHAKU
Top: var. of cliff , bottom: stone
Below the cliff are stones.  
JLPT 5Joyo 1
leg, foot, sufficient
ashi, tariru, SOKU
Top: kneecap , bottom: to stop (= Footprint of the right foot rotated 90° to the left.)
Between kneecap and foot is the leg, that's sufficient.  
JLPT 5Joyo 1
middle, inside
naka, CHŪ

The vertical line in the middle of the square shows the middle.  
JLPT 5Joyo 1
name, fame
na, MEI, MYŌ
Evening (If the moon is not yet complete [a stroke is missing], it is only evening .) and mouth
In the evening, you talk about people with name and fame.  
JLPT 4Joyo 2
rotate, turn, revolve
mawaru, KAI

Two coaxial rotations  
JLPT 5Joyo 2
old
furui, KO
Ten and mouth ( was derived from the image of a skull). See this as the image of a grave mound with a cross.
Under the tomb mound/stone lies the "old".  
JLPT 5Joyo 2
talk, tell, speak
kataru, GO
Left: word, speech (sound waves out of a mouth ), right: I, me 吾 (five and mouth )
Words out of five mouths mean to speak.  
JLPT 4Joyo 2
fit, meet, join
au, awaseru, GŌ, KATSU
Top: a cover , below: a container
The cover/lid on the container fits.  
JLPT 4Joyo 2
platform, rack, stand
DAI, TAI
Top: nose (in side view), bottom: mouth
The nose over the mouth is like a platform.  
JLPT 4Joyo 2
to know, knowledge
shiru, CHI
Left: an arrow (An arrow flies in the sky ), right: a mouth (here: a target)
The arrow hits the target, if it knows it.  
JLPT 4Joyo 2
same
onaji,
A container upside down: , one and an opening
All containers only have one opening, and that is the same.  
JLPT 3Joyo 2
non-human cry
naku, MEI
Left: mouth , right: a bird (Image of a bird with head , wrings , tail feather フ and talons )
Out of the mouth of the bird comes an animal's cry.  
JLPT 4Joyo 3
member
IN
Top: mouth , below: shell/money (Image of a cone-shell with two feelers/antennas )
(In a singing club) If you have a mouth and money you can become a member.  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
you, Mr., lord
kimi, KUN
Top: A hand ナ/ヨ holding a stick , bottom: mouth
The one with the stick in the hand striking on your mouth, is your master/lord.  
JLPT 4Joyo 2
elder brother
ani, KEI, KYŌ
A mouth and legs
A big mouth on legs: That's my elder brother.  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
opposite side, yonder, turn one's head, situation
muku, mukeru,
A house with a window
In this house, the window is on the opposite side, you just have to turn around.  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
number, title, issue, suffix

Top: mouth , bottom: winding seaweed (here: the number "5")
When the mouth says "5" it is a number.  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
trade, business, sell
akinau, SHŌ
Var. of emperor with long coat and mouth . Better to consider a vendor behind a sales desk with some goods (cf. to sell )
A vendor at the sales desk with goods means: trade.  
JLPT 4Joyo 3
goods, item, refinement
shina, HIN

Three boxes with goods.  
JLPT 4Joyo 3
taste, flavor, relish
aji, ajiwau, MI
Left: mouth , right: unripe, not yet (The upper branch of the tree is still shorter = immature.)
In the mouth sth. unripe can be tasted. [In contrast: In the mouth old things taste: hard ]  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
life, order, command, fate
inochi, MEI, MYŌ
Lower left: mouth , rest: order, command (To put a lid on the bent person, has been ordered!)
The mouth gives order to live.  
JLPT 4Joyo 3
ask
tou, MON
Outside: Gate , inner: mouth
The mouth at the gate is asking.  
JLPT 3Joyo 3
harmony, peace, Japan
yawaragu, nagoyaka, WA, O
Left: rice plant , right: mouth
Who has rice in his mouth is in harmony.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
add, append, join
kuwaeru, KA
Left: power , right: mouth
(It is meant, to eat sth.) For getting power your mouth needs sth. to be 'added'.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
each, every
ono, KAKU
Top: upturned foot or sitting with crossed legs , mouth (here better: futon/cushion)
Sitting cross-legged on a cushion does everybody.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
happy, joy, delight
yorokobu, KI
From top: samurai , beans , mouth . (This kanji has also been simplified to: )
(An army marches on its stomach!) A samurai with beans in his mouth is happy.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
container, vessel, pot, skill
utsuwa, KI
Four mouths , big
For four mouths you need a big pot / container.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
announce, proclaim, tell, inform, confess
tsugeru, KOKU
Top: cow bottom: mouth
The cow opens the mouth to announce sth.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
history
SHI
Mouth and a person with a wide step
With the mouth, the person who has taken wide steps, tells his: history.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
administer, govern, rule
tsukasadoru, SHI

In a corner ⌝ is sb. who throws a sheet of paper in the wastebasket : In the administration.  
JLPT 3Joyo 4
sing, recite, intone, preach
tonaeru, SHŌ
Left: mouth , right: two suns
Open the mouth widely as big as two suns, when: singing.  
JLPT 1Joyo 5
phrase, clause, rhythmic section in poem, paragraph
KU
Outside: wrap up/cover , inside: mouth
She covered her mouth at such a phrase. Or: Sth. wrapped out the mouth .  
JLPT 2Joyo 6
goodness, virtuous, goodwill
yoi, ZEN
From top: sheep , to stand , mouth
The sheep standing there with a gaping mouth has goodness and is virtuous.  
JLPT 2Joyo 5
approximately, extent, degree, limit
hodo, TEI
Left: rice plant , right: present, to present (The mouth of the king gives presents.)
Rice plants for the mouth of the king is the approximate extent.  
JLPT 2Joyo 5
possible, approve, accept
-beki/shi/ku, KA
Outside: city block (but here: a nail), below: opening
The nail into this opening should be possible.  
JLPT 2Joyo 6
suck, breathe in, inhale
suu, KYŪ
Left: mouth , right: reach, extend (Here: cigarette and variation of hand
A mouth with a cigarette in a hand to suck/inhale.  
JLPT 2Joyo 6
call, attract, summon
yobu, KO
Left: mouth , right: 乎 (var. hand , hence 'open' hand)
A mouth and in front an open hand for better calling.  
JLPT 1Joyo 6
an empress, queen, behind
kisaki, KŌ, GO
Top: var. of buttock seen from the side , below: opening as anus, in the sense of 'behind' (Originates in the custom that the empress followed behind the emperor.)
The one following 'behind' is the empress.  
JLPT 2Joyo 6
deny, no
ina, inamu, HI
Top: not (Four lines are not enough.), below: mouth
A "no" from a mouth is a denial.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
sorrow, sad, distress, grief
aware/remu, AI
Top and bottom: clothes , center: a big hole
Clothes with a hole causes sorrow. - (cf. - And if you protect your clothes , you will be praised [ほ-める])  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
kidnap, deceive, abduct
KAI
Left: hand , right: mouth , sword (cf. invite )
I feel a hand on my mouth and a sword: I am being kidnapped!  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
menace, threaten, terrorize
odosu/kasu, KAKU
Left: mouth , right: 2 x red (When clay/earth is burned in fire , the pottery gets: red)
A mouth with a double red is menacing.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
shout loudly, scold, browbeat, hoarse
KATSU
Left: mouth , right: (var. of easy (sun , rays with a sitting person instead two rays)
(Is it too hot for them?) The mouths of those sitting in the sunshine are shouting loudly.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
yell, shout, cry
wameku, KAN
Left: mouth , right: (only as radical) birth 奐 (from top: head of a woman , upper part of her body with emphasized breasts and spread legs )
The mouth at birth: yells and cries.  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
contain, include, hold
fukumu/meru, GAN
Top: now , bottom: mouth
What is now in the mouth is contained there.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
good luck, fortune, joy
KICHI, KITSU
Top: samurai , bottom: mouth - (simplified from: luck , where the samurai has beans in his mouth.)
A samurai with a (full) mouth has good luck.  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
consume, eat&drink, receive, ingest
KITSU
Left: mouth , right: pledge, promise (tally stick , [pairwise marked sticks were distributed at the conclusion and joined again after implementation of an agreement] - Cut into a tally stick with a sword in big letters: the pledge)
The mouth promises to eat and drink.  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
shout, yell, cry
sakebu, KYŌ
Left: mouth , right: twisted (pictograph: two intertwined threads).
The mouth is distorted when shouting.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
versify, recital, recite, singing
GIN
Left: mouth , right: now
The mouth will now start reciting.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
disclose, enlighten, illuminate, state
KEI
Top: door , hit, strike (bang) (hand with a stick ), below: opening
When the door opens with a bang into an opening, things get disclosed.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
to give, Wu-Chinese dynasty, do th. for sb. else
kureru, GO

Image of a person in Wu dynasty contentedly leaning back in relaxing armchair (= the rest of this character), because he gave sth. to somebody.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
entice/attract, to tempt, allure, instigate, incite
sosonokasu, sosoru, SA
Left: mouth , right: (nose , legs , upturned foot )
Mouth, nose, legs and an upturned foot: Shall that be attracting?  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
bloom, blossom
saku,
Left: mouth , right: out of , heaven/sky
Like a mouth out of heaven looks this blossom.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
inherit, succeed to
tsugu, SHI
Left: mouth , book/volume (bundle of bamboo writing tablets), right: administration/civil servant (... where sb. is sitting in a corner⌝ throwing a sheet of paper in the wastebasket )
He spoke, wrote it on the tablets and gave (his last will) to the civil servant for the inheritance.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
similar, like, compare, such as, equal
gotoku, JO, NYO
Left: woman , right: mouth
These women's mouths are that similar, that they are comparable.  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
summon, call someone (respectfully), to send for
mesu, SHŌ
Top: sword , below: mouth
Use sword and mouth to summon / call together.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
entrust, confidence, request, ask
SHOKU
Left: mouth , right: species, genus (The rear part belongs to an insect 禹/ with long legs , but which species?)
To the mouth of this species, it can be entrusted.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
lip(s)
kuchibiru, SHIN
Top: plow (At the field corner a first line is plowed by the farmer 农 [农 = Chinese for farmer]), below: mouth
Like plowed lines at the mouth: the lips.  
JLPT 2Joyo 7
blow, breathe out
fuku, SUI
Left: mouth , right: lack (The mouth wide open of the yawning person is lacking [i.e. manners])
If out of the mouth a "nothing" is coming, then it is "blowing".  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
mourn, loss, miss, death
mo,
From top: ten , two mouths , simple var. of clothes
A cross , two coffins/caskets and simple clothes are signs of mourning. (Or: It is also sorrow with two holes ロロ in the clothes .)  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
lament, sigh, grieve, admire
nageku/kawashii, TAN
Left: mouth , right: var. of China (Water and plants in the mouth of the husband from China) [But water is missing]
Mouths in a waterless China are lamenting.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
foolish, stupid, silly
CHI
Outside: illness (An ice--cold building 广 makes sick.), inside: know (The arrow hits the target , if it knows it.)
The disease in respect to "knowing" is to be stupid.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
offer, present, display, exhibit
TEI
Top: mouth , bottom: king
The mouth of the king offers presents.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
wisdom, philosophy
TETSU
Top: to break (A hand with an axe can make things break.), below: mouth
Even broken, his mouth utters wisdom.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
vomit, through up, spit up, disgorge, spew
haku, TO
Left: mouth , right: earth/ground
From his mouth and onto the ground he disgorged the vomit.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
Tang-China
kara,
广
Outside: building 广, below: hand ナ/ヨ, pestle , mortar
Buildings in which a hand uses a mortar in the Tang Dynasty. (It was 618-907 AD and a heyday. - Maybe that's why people peacefully prepared food in the mortar?)  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
eruption, emit, spout, flush out
fuku, FUN
Left: mouth, opening , right: (ten , plant ), shell/money
Out of the opening, ten plants and money were flushed out at the eruption.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
merely, only, just, simply
tada, YUI, I
Left: mouth , right: bird
The mouth of this bird (sings) merely.  
JLPT 1Joyo 7
official, officialdom
RI
Center: mouth , rest: measure of length [Big person measures with long step 3m]
Just a measure of length and a mouth is needed by an official.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
gorge, throat, to be choked
musebu, IN
Left: mouth , right: reason (For the fence around the big person is a reason.)
It is at the mouth and an enclosure/restriction in respect to the size (of the food): The gorge.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
song, buddhistic ritual songs
uta,
Left: mouth , right: money, shell
(A paid singer?) It comes out of his mouth for money: a song.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
smell, sniff
kagu, KYŪ
Left: mouth , right: variation of smell, stink (because without "dog" )
The mouth itself of the dog can sniff a smell. (Or: The mouth itself of a dog has a smell.)  
JLPT -Joyo 7
throat
nodo,
Left: mouth , right: marquis (var. of bent person , arrow )
Also the mouth of a marquis ends in his throat.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
scold, reprove
shikaru, SHITSU
Left: mouth , right: sitting person
With his mouth wide open, he is sitting and scolding.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
curse, malediction, magic word, spell, charm
norou, JU
Left: mouth , right: elder brother (A big mouth on legs )
Two brothers , but the left without legs, because he is cursed. (Or: Out of the mouth of the elder brother comes: a curse.)  
JLPT -Joyo 7
saliva, spit
tsuba, DA
Left: mouth , right: hanging down, drop (A vehicle with a loose wheel, that almost drops off.)
From the mouth it is hanging (or dripping) down: the saliva.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
ridicule, scoff, sneer
azakeru, CHŪ
Left: mouth , right: morning (= sunrise [= sun rises between plants ] and the moon is still there.)
This mouth early in the morning cannot but ridicule sneer.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
suckle, breast feeding
HO
Left: mouth , right: to begin (The hand takes the tool to use , when beginning sth.)
(At a new born baby:) The mouth starts suckling.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
metaphor, compare
YU
Left: mouth , right: cover , moon/month , var. of river
The mouth covers for months the river? Must be a metaphor.  
JLPT -Joyo 7
six lower tones of the octave
RO
Shows two connected rooms (cf. palace ) Here: see as sound waves
(The sound of lower tones can propagate better:) This sound comes from one room to room: The lower tones of the octave.  

Radicals are shown here that are similar either in appearance or meaning.

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