Japanese word

口頭

Pronunciation

Romajikōtō

Meaning

  • nounoral

Example

その説明は口頭でお願いします。so no setsu mei wa kō tō de o nega i shi ma su

Please give that explanation orally.

Illustration for 口頭 (oral)

More examples

会議の決定事項は、口頭で全員に伝えられました。kai gi no ket tei ji kō wa kō tō de zen in ni tsuta e ra re ma shi ta

The decisions from the meeting were communicated to everyone orally.

Core concept

Refers to communication that reaches others through spoken words rather than through a written record.

Common phrases

  • 口頭で伝えるkō tō de tsuta e ru

    communicate orally

  • 口頭での指示kō tō de no shi ji

    oral instruction

  • 口頭発表kō tō hap pyō

    oral presentation

Definition in Japanese

書いたものによらず、話すことで情報や内容を伝えること。ka i ta mo no ni yo ra zu hana su ko to de jō hō ya nai yō o tsuta e ru ko to

Word origin

口頭 (kōtō) is formed from the Sino-Japanese readings of 口 (kō, "mouth") and 頭 (tō, "head"), and its meaning developed around speech as the means of communication.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 口頭 (kōtō) usually describes a mode of communication, while English oral also has a medical sense related to the mouth.

Opposites

Word lists with this word