無口

• Reading: むくち
• Romaji: mukuchi
• Kanji breakdown: 無 (mu) — without, lacking, nothing; 口 (kuchi/kou) — mouth
• Pronunciation: /mɯ.kɯ.tɕi/

Meaning

Taciturn; reticent; quiet; untalkative. Describes a person who rarely speaks.

A na-adjective/noun describing someone who is naturally quiet and does not talk much. 無口な人 (a quiet person), 彼は無口だ (he is taciturn). Unlike 静か (shizuka, quiet), which can describe environments, 無口 specifically refers to a person's tendency not to speak. Not necessarily negative — can describe someone thoughtful or reserved.

Examples

1. 父は無口な人だが、大事なときには的確な言葉をくれる。 My father is a quiet man, but when it matters, he always says exactly the right thing.
2. 初対面では無口だったが、慣れると明るくなる。 He was quiet when we first met, but once he got comfortable, he really opened up.
3. 彼女は無口なだけで、怒っているわけではない。 She's just quiet — she's not actually angry.

Usage Guide

Context: personality descriptions, daily life, literature

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 無 (mu, without/lacking) + 口 (kuchi, mouth). Literally 'without mouth' — as if one has no mouth to speak with.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal