口さがない

• Reading: くちさがない
• Romaji: kuchisaganai
• Kanji breakdown: 口 (kuchi) — mouth; さがない — ill-natured, without good qualities (classical)
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.tɕi.sa.ɡa.na.i/

Meaning

Gossipy; sharp-tongued; fond of spreading malicious talk. Describes someone who talks carelessly or critically about others without restraint.

An i-adjective meaning literally 'without decency in one's mouth'. さがない derives from the classical adjective さがなし meaning 'without good qualities' or 'ill-natured'. The phrase describes the cultural reproach of those who gossip, spread rumours, or make cutting remarks about others, particularly in community or neighbourhood settings.

Examples

1. 口さがない人たちが彼女の離婚についてあれこれ噂をしていた。 Gossipy people were spreading all kinds of rumors about her divorce.
2. 口さがないご近所の話は、誇張されて広まることが多い。 Stories from gossipy neighbors tend to get exaggerated as they spread.
3. 彼は口さがないことで有名で、秘密を話すと必ず漏れる。 He's famous for being a gossip—if you tell him a secret, it's guaranteed to leak.

Usage Guide

Context: gossip, community criticism, character description, literature

Tone: disapproving, literary

Origin & History

Classical compound of 口 (kuchi — mouth) and さがない (saganai — ill-natured, lacking virtue). The さが element comes from 性 (saga), meaning nature or disposition, with なし (nai) negating it.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal