口 meaning and stroke order
Mouth; classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc); classifier for bites or mouthfuls
How to write 口, stroke by stroke
3 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Meaning of 口
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- mouth
- classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc)
- classifier for bites or mouthfuls
How 口 is built
Pictographic character. An open mouth.
How to remember 口
口 (kǒu) is a picture of an open mouth, drawn as a simple square. Think of it as a mouth or any opening, like a door or a hole you can go through.
口 means mouth, but it often means an opening or entrance, as in 门口 (ménkǒu) doorway and 出口 (chūkǒu) exit. It is also a classifier for family members, wells, and mouthfuls. 我家有三口人。(Wǒ jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén.) There are three people in my family.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 口 (kǒu) with the larger enclosure 囗 (wéi), which surrounds other parts as in 国 (guó). 口 is smaller and usually sits beside or above other parts, as in 吃 (chī). Also write it in three strokes, not four: the top and right side are one turning stroke.
Common words with 口
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 门口 | ménkǒu | doorway; gate | HSK 1 |
| 路口 | lùkǒu | crossing; intersection (of roads) | HSK 1 |
| 出口 | chūkǒu | an exit; to speak | HSK 2 |
| 入口 | rùkǒu | entrance; to import | HSK 2 |
| 人口 | rénkǒu | population; people | HSK 2 |
| 口袋 | kǒudai | pocket; bag; sack | HSK 4 |
| 进口 | jìnkǒu | to import; imported | HSK 4 |
| 口语 | kǒuyǔ | colloquial speech; spoken language | HSK 4 |
| 一口气 | yīkǒuqì | one breath; in one breath | HSK 5 |
| 口号 | kǒuhào | slogan; catchphrase | HSK 5 |
| 伤口 | shāngkǒu | wound; cut | HSK 6 |
| 窗口 | chuāngkǒu | window; opening providing restricted access (e.g. customer service window) | HSK 6 |
| 港口 | gǎngkǒu | port; harbor | HSK 6 |
| 口试 | kǒushì | oral examination; oral test | HSK 6 |
口 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 口
Learning 口 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 口
How many strokes are in 口?
口 is written with 3 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 口 mean?
口 (kǒu) means mouth; classifier for things with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc); classifier for bites or mouthfuls. A common word with it is 门口 (ménkǒu), meaning "doorway; gate".
How do you pronounce 口?
口 is pronounced kǒu, in the third tone (dipping).
Is 口 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 口 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
Is 口 the normal word for mouth in spoken Chinese?
In everyday speech people usually say 嘴 (zuǐ) for the body part, as in 张嘴 (zhāng zuǐ) open your mouth. 口 appears more in compound words and fixed phrases like 口语 (kǒuyǔ) and 口渴 (kǒukě) thirsty.
How do I use 口 to talk about a bite or a mouthful?
Put a number before 口 and the food or drink after it. For example, 喝一口水 (hē yì kǒu shuǐ) means take a sip of water, and 吃一口 (chī yì kǒu) means take a bite.