口火

くちび

Meanings

1. Noun fuse; pilot light
2. cause (of a war, argument, revolt, etc.); origin; trigger

Kanji

• 口 mouth. Read as くち.
• 火 fire. Read as ひ.

Example sentences

• グループの人たち全員が沈黙しているときは、誰かが話の口火を切らねばならない。
  When all the group members are silent, somebody must break the ice.
• 「お父さん、質問してもいい？」と彼女は経験を積んだ親なら誰でもおなじみの、我慢強く苛立ちを抑えた調子で口火を切った。
  "Let me ask you something, Dad," she began, in a tone of patiently controlled exasperation that every experienced parent is familiar with.

Common phrases

• 口火を切る (くちびをきる) to start the debate

Words containing 口火

• 口火を切る (くちびをきる) to start the debate

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists