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嘴巴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
嘴巴zuǐbamouthHSK 5, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #3170, Hard
嘴巴zuǐbaslap in the faceHSK 5, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #3170, Hard
zuǐba(zui3ba5)zui ba T3
  1. 1mouth
  2. 2slap in the face
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March 24, 2026

嘴巴zuǐba(zui3ba5)

嘴巴 (zui3 ba5) refers to the mouth, an essential part of the body used for eating, speaking, and expressing emotions. It is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as in phrases related to speech or insults, where it can also imply a slap in the face metaphorically.

Strokes20Frequency#3170DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the mouth is often associated with communication and relationships. The phrase '闭嘴' (bì zuǐ) meaning 'shut your mouth' can be used to express disagreement or frustration, showcasing the importance of speech in social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big mouth (嘴) that can shout loudly and is shaped like a 'z' when viewed sideways. The 'ba' sounds like 'bark', which can remind you of how a mouth barks out words or could metaphorically 'slap' someone with harsh speech.

Meanings of 嘴巴

zuǐba(zui3ba5)
1mouth
2slap in the face
Exercise 1 of 3

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About 嘴巴

嘴巴Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
张Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 嘴巴

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Podcast: 嘴巴

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AI Study Notes for 嘴巴

Quick Contrast

嘴 (zuǐ) refers specifically to the mouth as an anatomical feature, while 嘴巴 (zuǐba) is a more colloquial term that can imply additional nuances related to speech or expression.

Usage Notes

This word is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with more formal terms for mouth, like 口 (kǒu). It is often paired with verbs like '说' (to speak) or '吃' (to eat) in common phrases.

HSK Study Tips

While 嘴巴 is not currently included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to basic body parts (like 口) that students may encounter. Focus on using it in context to describe actions involving the mouth, like eating or speaking.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 嘴巴 in overly formal situations. For example, saying '在会议上,我用了我的嘴巴' (At the meeting, I used my mouth) is awkward; it's better to say '我在会议上发言' (I spoke at the meeting).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 嘴巴

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Component Characters

嘴zuǐmouth
HSK 316 strokes口
View full entry
巴BāBa state during Zhou dynasty (in east of modern Sichuan)
4 strokes巳
View full entry

How to say mouth in Chinese

“mouth” in Chinese is嘴巴zuǐba

嘴巴 (zui3 ba5) refers to the mouth, an essential part of the body used for eating, speaking, and expressing emotions. It is commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as in phrases related to speech or insults, where it can also imply a slap in the face metaphorically.

When to use 嘴巴

This word is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious not to confuse it with more formal terms for mouth, like 口 (kǒu). It is often paired with verbs like '说' (to speak) or '吃' (to eat) in common phrases.

嘴巴 or something close to it

嘴 (zuǐ) refers specifically to the mouth as an anatomical feature, while 嘴巴 (zuǐba) is a more colloquial term that can imply additional nuances related to speech or expression.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 嘴巴 in overly formal situations. For example, saying '在会议上,我用了我的嘴巴' (At the meeting, I used my mouth) is awkward; it's better to say '我在会议上发言' (I spoke at the meeting).

Write 嘴巴

嘴
巴

Practice writing 嘴巴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Common Confusions with 嘴巴

嘴巴vs嘴
zuǐ

Same pronunciation but '嘴巴' is more colloquial.

嘴巴vs把
bǎ

Similar sound but different meaning and usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “mouth”?

or

Usage Notes for 嘴巴

Colloquial UseCommon Error

'嘴巴' is often used in speaking rather than writing.

1

我嘴巴疼。

My mouth hurts.

Exercise 1 of 1

Get it right

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我____疼。

My mouth hurts.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 嘴巴

嘴巴 is a neutral term and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, it is more commonly used in casual conversations. In formal settings, you might encounter the term '口' (kǒu) when referring to the mouth.

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