1.
to speak; to talk; to utter words
To speak or talk. Often used in negative contexts to describe someone being silent, sulking, or refusing to communicate.
彼はまだ口を利かない。
He still isn't speaking.
喧嘩して一週間口を利かなかった。
We had a fight and didn't speak for a week.
赤ちゃんがやっと口を利くようになった。
The baby has finally started to talk.
2.
to put in a good word; to use one's influence; to act as intermediary
To use personal connections or influence to help someone, often by speaking to the right person on their behalf.
先輩に口を利いてもらった。
My senior put in a good word for me.
部長に口を利いて異動を取り消してもらった。
I had the department head put in a word and got my transfer cancelled.
知り合いに口を利いてもらって、やっと予約が取れた。
An acquaintance pulled some strings for me, and I was finally able to get a reservation.
USAGE:
Sense 1 is very commonly used in the negative (口を利かない — to not speak) to describe someone giving the silent treatment or a child not yet speaking. Sense 2 implies using personal connections or influence to help someone — a culturally significant concept in Japan.
NOTE: Do not confuse the kanji 利く in this expression with 聞く (to hear/ask). The 利く here means "to be effective" or "to function."
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 話す: to speak, to talk — general verb for speaking
- 取り次ぐ: to relay, to act as intermediary — more formal mediation