Let’s look at the Japanese idioms with 口 – Mouth!
1. 口先だけ（いいことを言う）
/kuchi-saki dake/ Literally means? Only the lips Actually means: Pay lip service to someone
彼は口先だけの人だよ。
/kare wa kuchi-saki dake no hito da yo/
His talk is cheap.
2. 口を挟む
/kuchi o hasamu/
Literally means? To put mouth in between (something)
Actually means: To interrupt
まだ話しているので、口を挟まないでください。
/mada hanashiteru node kuchi o hasamanai de hoshi-i desu/
I’m still talking so please do not interrupt.
*Careful, this phrase can sound a little too direct and impolite!
3. 口を割る
/kuchi o waru/
Literally means? To crack a mouth
Actually means: (Finally) tell the truth, confess
ずっと黙っていた容疑者が、ようやく口を割りました。
/zutto damatte ita yoogisha ga yooyaku kuchi o warimashita/
The suspect finally started telling the truth after being silent for a while.
4. 口を閉ざす
/kuchi o tozasu/
Literally means? To make a mouth shut
Actually means: Try not to say anything and stay silent
あの子は今朝から口を閉ざしたままです。
/ano ko wa kesa kara kuchi o tozashita mama desu/
That child has been silent since this morning.
5. 口を酸っぱくする
/kuchi o suppaku suru/
Literally means? To make a mouth sour
Actually means: To tell someone over and over again
うちに帰って来たらすぐに手を洗うようにいつも口を酸っぱくしているのに、息子はなかなか言うことを聞きません。
/uchi ni kaette kitara sugu ni te o arau yoo ni itsumo kuchi o suppaku shiteiru noni musuko wa nakanaka iukoto o kikimasen/
I have always been telling my son to wash his hands as soon as he gets home but he doesn’t listen to me.
6. 口を出す
/kuchi o dasu/ Literally means? To put out the mouth Actually means: To interfere
他人のことに口を出さない方がいいですよ。
/tanin no koto ni kuchi o dasanai hoo ga i-i desu yo/
You know, it’s better not to poke your nose into other people’s business.
7. 口を合わせる（口裏を合わせる）
/kuchi (kuchi-ura) o awaseru/ Literally means? To put the mouth together Actually means: To arrange a story to not contradict each other about the problem
あの二人は口裏を合わせていたみたいです。
/ano futari wa kuchi-ura o awasete ita mitai desu/
It looks like they arranged the story behind our backs.
8. 口にする
/kuchi ni suru/
Literally means? To do to the mouth
Actually means:
1. To speak of something
2. To eat or drink something
彼の前で、あのことを口にしないでください。
/kare no mae de ano koto o kuchi ni shinaide kudasai/
Please don’t mention that in front of him.
昨日から食欲がなくて、何も口にしていません。
/kinoo kara shokuyoku ga nakute nani mo kuchi ni shiteimasen/
I haven’t eaten anything since yesterday as I don’t have any appetite.
9. 口に合う
/kuchi ni au/
Literally means? To suit the mouth
Actually means: Something tastes agreeable
これ、よかったら食べてください。お口に合うといいんですけど。
/kore yokattara tabete kudasai. o-kuchi ni au to ii n desu kedo/
Please eat this if you like. I hope it’s tasty.
10. 口が裂けても（＋言えない）
/kuchi ga sakete mo (ienai)/
Literally means? Even if my mouth is split...
Actually means: No matter what (I cannot disclose)
あのことは、口が裂けても言えない・・・。
/ano koto wa kuchi ga sakete mo ienai/
I can never disclose it no matter what.
11. 口がうまい
/kuchi ga umai/
Literally means? The mouth is tasty
Actually means: To be fair-spoken
彼は営業なので口がうまいです。
/kare wa eegyoo nanode kuchi ga umai desu/
He is a salesperson so good at convincing people.
12. 口が軽い
/kuchi ga karui/
Literally means? The mouth is light
Actually means: To have a big mouth, cannot keep secrets
あの人は口が軽いから秘密は話さない方がいいな。
/ano hito wa kuchi ga karui kara himitsu wa hanasanai hoo ga i-i na/
I think I shouldn’t tell him my secrets because he has a loose tongue.
13. 口が堅い
/kuchi ga katai/
Literally means? The mouth is tough
Actually means: To be tight-lipped, to be good at keeping secrets
私の親友は口が堅いのでなんでも相談できます。
/watashi no shinyuu wa kuchi ga katai node nandemo soodan dekimasu/
My best friend is high-lipped so I can tell her anything.
14. 口が悪い
/kuchi ga warui/
Literally means? The mouth is bad
Actually means: To have a bitter and nasty tongue
あの社長は有能ですが、少々口が悪いんですよね。
/ano shachoo wa yuunoo desu ga shooshoo kuchi ga warui n desu yo ne/
That company CEO is a person of ability but has a little nasty tongue.
15. 口が滑る
/kuchi ga suberu/
Literally means? The mouth slips
Actually means: To make a slip of the tongue
口が滑って、映画の結末を言ってしまった。
/kuchi ga subette eega no ketsumatsu o itte shimatta/
I accidentally said how the film ends.
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