Recognize 口 in everyday Japanese. Start with its meaning, mouth; opening, then learn to read it in whole words such as 口 and 入口.

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 口（くち） and 入口（いりぐち）. 口 has 3 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
口くちmouth; opening
入口いりぐちentrance
出口でぐちexit

Examples

  • 口くちを大おおきく開あけます。I open my mouth wide.
  • 入口いりぐちは会社かいしゃの左ひだりにあります。The entrance is on the left side of the company building.
  • 出口でぐちは右みぎにあります。The exit is on the right.
  • この店みせは入口いりぐちが広ひろいです。The entrance to this shop is wide.
  • 出口でぐちで友達ともだちに会あいます。I meet a friend at the exit.
  • この瓶びんの口くちは小ちいさいです。The opening of this bottle is small.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

口 is くち alone; it becomes ぐち in 入口 and 出口. Compare the shape of 口 with 日 so you do not confuse them.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 口 in hiragana.

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    くち

    口 is read くち; it means mouth; opening. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  2. Write the reading of 入口 in hiragana.

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    いりぐち

    入口 is read いりぐち; it means entrance. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 入＿（いりぐち）.

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    口

    口 completes 入口, read いりぐち; the word means entrance.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 口 from memory, and read 口 and 入口 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.