Basic Meaning

The Chinese character “口” originally refers to the human mouth. Its pictographic form is a square shape, representing an opening used for speaking and eating. As a radical, “口” frequently appears in characters related to sound, speech, and entrances/exits.

When combined with other characters, “口” forms new characters with extended meanings:

  • 吃 (chī, eat): 口 + 乞, meaning to consume food with the mouth;
  • 吹 (chuī, blow): 口 + 欠, meaning to exhale or blow air;
  • 吟 (yín, chant/recite): 口 + 今, meaning to chant or recite with the mouth.

These combinations show how “口” serves as the foundation for words related to eating, speaking, and sound.

Extended Meanings and Polysemy

“口” has rich extended meanings in Chinese:

  • Organ: Refers to the mouth itself, e.g., open the mouth, close the mouth;
  • Speech: e.g., eloquence (口才), spoken language (口语);
  • Entrance/exit: e.g., port (港口), mountain pass (山口);
  • Counting unit: e.g., population (人口), “a family of three mouths” (三口之家).

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

  • Communication and interaction: Represents speech as a medium of human connection;
  • Livelihood and survival: Represents eating, reflecting the cultural saying “food is the first necessity of the people” (民以食为天);
  • Power and expression: Symbolizes the power of words, as in “eloquence flows naturally” (出口成章).

Usage and Context

  • Nouns: mouth, port, population;
  • Verbs: open mouth, speak, close mouth;
  • Culture and literature: Frequently appears in poetry and idioms to express themes of speech, eating, and communication.

Summary

The character “口” is versatile, from its original meaning of the human mouth to its extended meanings of speech, entrances, and numerical units. Its use reflects not only the daily functions of eating and communication but also the cultural importance of interaction, livelihood, and expression in Chinese society.