口 Radical 30 — mouth; an opening

Where the shape comes from

A drawing of an open mouth, squared off by the brush into a small box. It marks anything done with the mouth — eating, calling, speaking — and by extension any opening: 吃, 叫, 喝, 名, 哪.

characters filed under 口

• 口kǒu (third tone, dipping)mouth; an opening or entrance; measure word for members of a household3
• 吃chī (first tone, high and level)to eat; to take (a meal, medicine); to absorb, to take in6
• 名míng (second tone, rising)name; given name; reputation, famous; measure word for people counted by rank or role6
• 问/問wèn (fourth tone, falling)to ask, to inquire; to ask after, to send regards; to question, to interrogate6
• 喜xǐ (third tone, dipping)to like, to be fond of; joy, delight; a happy event, especially a wedding12
• 喝hē (first tone, high and level) hè (fourth tone, falling)to drink; (hè) to shout loudly, to call out12