Japanese word

無口

Pronunciation

Romajimukuchi

Meaning

  • na-adjectivequiet

Example

兄は人前では無口です。ani wa hito mae de wa mu kuchi de su

My older brother is quiet in front of people.

Illustration for 無口 (quiet)

More examples

初対面では無口な人でも、親しくなるとよく話します。hatsu tai men de wa mu kuchi na hito de mo shita shi ku na ru to yo ku hana shi ma su

Someone who is quiet at first may become very talkative after getting to know others well.

Core concept

Describes a person who tends to say little, making quietness a usual manner rather than a momentary silence.

Common phrases

  • 無口な人mu kuchi na hito

    quiet person

  • 無口になるmu kuchi ni na ru

    become quiet

  • 無口でいるmu kuchi de i ru

    remain quiet

Similar words

寡黙kamoku: Describes a person who uses few words and rarely speaks.

Definition in Japanese

人前であまり話をしないさま。hito mae de a ma ri hanashi o shi na i sa ma

Word origin

The Japanese compound 無口 (mukuchi) combines 無 (mu, "without") and 口 (kuchi, "mouth"), forming a term for someone who speaks little.

Usage tips

  • English quiet can describe a room, but 無口 (mukuchi) normally describes a person's tendency to speak little rather than the absence of sound.

Other meanings

  • reticentna-adjective
  • taciturnna-adjective

Opposites

  • 多弁tabentalkativena-adjective
  • 饒舌nyōzetsuloquaciousna-adjective

Related words

  • 無口さmukuchisataciturnitynoun

Word lists with this word