無口(むくち)

むくち
na-adjective, noun
taciturn; quiet; not talkative
1. taciturn; quiet; reticent
Tending to speak little; reserved in speech. Describes a personality trait of not talking much.
彼(かれ)は無口(むくち)な人(ひと)で、会議(かいぎ)でもほとんど話(はな)さない。
He's a quiet person and hardly speaks even in meetings.
無口(むくち)だけど、仕事(しごと)はきちんとやる人(ひと)だ。
He's taciturn, but he does his work properly.
父(ちち)は無口(むくち)で、家(いえ)でもあまり話(はなし)をしなかった。
My father was a man of few words and didn't talk much even at home.

USAGE:

Describes a personality trait rather than temporary silence.

  • 無口(むくち)な人(ひと)/性格(せいかく) (a quiet person/personality)
  • 無口(むくち)になる (to become quiet - e.g., after something happens)

NUANCE:
Generally neutral to slightly negative. Unlike "quiet" in English, 無口(むくち) specifically refers to not speaking much, not to being calm or peaceful.

CONTRAST:

  • 無口(むくち) ↔ おしゃべり (taciturn ↔ talkative)
  • 無口(むくち) ↔ 饒舌(じょうぜつ) (taciturn ↔ loquacious - more formal)

KANJI BREAKDOWN:

  • 無(む) (without) + 口(くち) (mouth) = without [use of] mouth → not talkative

Related Words

Antonym: おしゃべり (talkative)
general
Added 2026.1.18 12:52 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:17
06500/06644_mukuchi