Meaning
张嘴 literally means 'to open mouth' and refers to the physical action of opening your mouth, whether to speak, eat, yawn, or be examined by a doctor. It can also figuratively mean to speak up or ask for something, especially in contexts where someone is reluctant or hesitant to do so.
Usage
Commonly used in medical contexts (dentist telling you to open your mouth), when eating, or when encouraging someone to speak their mind. The phrase 张嘴就来 (zhāng zuǐ jiù lái) means 'to speak without thinking' or 'words come out as soon as one opens one's mouth.' In colloquial usage, 张嘴 can also imply asking someone for money or favors.
Examples
- 01医生让我张嘴检查牙齿。.The doctor asked me to open my mouth to check my teeth.
- 02他一张嘴就说错话了。.As soon as he opened his mouth, he said the wrong thing.
Characters
Common collocations
- 张嘴就来to speak without thinking
- 张大嘴巴to open one's mouth wide
- 不好意思张嘴embarrassed to speak up/ask
- 张嘴要钱to ask for money
Antonyms
Origin
张 originally meant 'to draw a bow' and extended to mean 'to open' or 'to spread.' Combined with 嘴 (mouth), it creates a straightforward compound describing the action of opening the mouth.