口利(くちき)き

くちきき
noun
mediation; intercession; good speaker
communicationsociety
1. mediation; intercession; putting in a good word
The act of using one's connections or influence to help arrange something for someone else. Often implies pulling strings or making introductions on someone's behalf.
知人(ちじん)の口利(くちき)きで就職(しゅうしょく)できた。
I was able to get a job through a friend's connections.
上司(じょうし)に口利(くちき)きを頼(たの)んだ。
I asked my boss to put in a good word for me.
政治家(せいじか)の口利(くちき)きで公共事業(こうきょうじぎょう)の契約(けいやく)が決(き)まったと報道(ほうどう)された。
It was reported that the public works contract was decided through a politician's intervention.
2. a good speaker; someone articulate
A person who is skilled at speaking, negotiation, or persuasion.
彼女(かのじょ)は口利(くちき)きだから、交渉(こうしょう)を任(まか)せよう。
She's a good talker, so let's leave the negotiations to her.
あの人(ひと)は口利(くちき)きで、誰(だれ)とでもうまく話(はな)せる。
He's articulate and can talk smoothly with anyone.
口利(くちき)きの営業(えいぎょう)マンは成績(せいせき)がいい。
Salespeople who are good speakers tend to have good results.

Compound of 口(くち) ('mouth') and 利(き)く ('to be effective'). The two senses are quite different: sense 1 is about using social influence to help someone, while sense 2 describes speaking ability.

Sense 1 is particularly important to understand in Japanese society, where personal connections (人脈(じんみゃく)) and introductions play a major role in business, employment, and daily life. The word can be neutral (a helpful introduction) or negative (corrupt political influence), depending on context.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 仲介(ちゅうかい) (mediation)
Compare: 紹介(しょうかい) (introduction)
Compare: 斡旋(あっせん) (arrangement, good offices)
general
Added 2026.4.8 0:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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