Posted 2017/3/31
"kou" (口) is a pictographic character. In the oracle bone inscriptions, it is pretty much like an open mouth. Today, this character remains in the shape of a mouth. The original meaning of it was the organ through which a person or animal can take food into the body, and speak or make sounds. Based on this meaning, the character "kou" gradually had the extended meaning of "an access", as in the phrases like "menkou" (meaning "an entrance or doorway") and “gangkou" (meaning “a port or harbor"). The character also refers to "a broken area", as in the phrase "kouzi" (meaning "an opening or crack"). In addition, it may mean "oral, verbal, or non-written", as in phrases like "kouyu" (meaning "spoken language") and "koutan" (meaning "state orally"). The character "kou" is also used to mean “guankou” (meaning strategic pass).
