くちもと

Japanese

Alternative spelling
口元

Etymology

From 口(くち) (kuchi) + 元(もと) (moto).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) くちもと [kùchímótó] (Heiban – [0])^[1]
• IPA^(key): [kɯ̟t͡ɕimo̞to̞]

Noun

くちもと • (kuchimoto) ^{←くちもと (kutimoto)?}

1. the mouth (as a general area on the face); the lips

   口(くち)元(もと)に手(て)を当(あ)てる

   kuchimoto ni te o ateru

   to put one's hand to one's face

   口(くち)元(もと)にほくろがある

   kuchimoto ni hokuro ga aru

   to have a mole near one's mouth

   口(くち)元(もと)に微(ほほ)笑(え)みを浮(う)かべる

   kuchimoto ni hohoemi o ukaberu

   to smile slightly

   (literally, “to float a slight smile near one's mouth”)

References

1. Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN