(kǒu) — mouth (body part); (classifier) for counting people, domestic animals, etc. in a household; also for bites or mouthfuls

Definition

口 (kǒu) is the formal/classical word for 'mouth' and is mainly seen as a measure word for people, animals, and mouthfuls. For everyday speech use 嘴 or 嘴巴.

noun
mouth (body part)
classifier
for counting peopledomestic animalsetc. in a householdalso for bites or mouthfuls
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Wǒ jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén.
    There are three people in my family.
  • Wǒ chī yì kǒu píng guǒ.
    I take a bite of an apple.
  • Tā kǒu lǐ hán zhe wēn dù jì.
    He has a thermometer in his mouth.

Origin

Pictograph
六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíng

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Browse more HSK 1 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.