Key Facts
- Hangul: 입; Revised Romanization: ip
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean
- Register: Neutral everyday word; 'mouth' also appears in idioms about speech.
Mouth in Korean: What Does 입 Mean?
입 means mouth. It is neutral and everyday, and it also shows up in idioms about speech, as in 입을 열다 (to start speaking). The examples below show three uses: a literal body part, a physical feeling and an idiom. The idiom is the one most learners miss, since 입이 무겁다 has nothing to do with weight. It describes someone who does not spread secrets.
How Do You Pronounce 입?
One syllable, ip. The final ㅂ closes the lips without releasing a puff of air.
Example Sentences with 입
입을 크게 벌리세요.
ibeul keuge beolliseyo.
Please open your mouth wide.
A dentist's instruction. 크게 means wide, and 벌리세요 politely asks you to open.
입이 말랐어요.
ibi mallasseoyo.
My mouth is dry.
말랐어요 is a past form meaning "has dried", so Korean says the mouth has dried out.
그 사람은 입이 무거워요.
geu sarameun ibi mugeowoyo.
That person keeps secrets well.
An idiom: the mouth is "heavy", which means the person keeps secrets.
Common Phrases and Collocations
입을 열다 is to open one's mouth or begin speaking, 입을 다물다 is to keep quiet and 입이 무겁다 is to be tight-lipped.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 입을 열다 | to open one's mouth / start speaking |
| 입을 다물다 | to close one's mouth / keep quiet |
| 입이 무겁다 | to be tight-lipped |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: using 입 for the lips, or for the entrance of a building.
Right: the lips are 입술, and an entrance is 입구.
입 Compared with Similar Words
Two nearby words need separating.
| Word | Meaning | Contrast with mouth |
|---|---|---|
| 입 | mouth | This page's word |
| 입술 | lips | 입술 means the lips only; 입 is the mouth. |
| 이 | tooth | 이 is a tooth inside the 입. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
입 is native Korean, with no hanja.
Asking for a Break at the Dentist
A dentist is examining a patient’s mouth. The patient asks for a short pause using polite language.
Dentist
입을 조금 더 벌려 주세요.
Ibeul jogeum deo beollyeo juseyo.
Please open your mouth a little wider.
Patient
이렇게요?
Ireokeyo?
Like this?
Dentist
네, 좋아요.
Ne, joayo.
Yes, that’s good.
Patient
잠깐 쉬어도 돼요?
Jamkkan swieodo dwaeyo?
May I take a short break?
조금 더 means “a little more”. The request asks for a wider opening, rather than a different movement. 이렇게요? lets the patient check the position while demonstrating it. In the last line, 잠깐 means “briefly”, so the patient asks to pause the examination for a moment.
Where Will You Hear 입?
At a dental appointment, 입 usually refers to the physical mouth. 입을 벌리다 describes opening it wide, while 입을 다물다 describes closing it. With a body instruction, the action is literal. In an argument or a scene about keeping a secret, the same mouth vocabulary can concern speaking.
입 다물어 is a blunt command meaning “shut up” or “keep your mouth shut”. It may appear in dramas, but it is harsh when directed at someone. The neutral noun 입 does not make every phrase containing it polite. For a request for quiet, 조용히 해 주세요 is a more useful polite expression.
In food talk, 입 often connects to taste and appetite. 입맛 means “appetite” or “taste preference”. A person describing their 입맛 may be talking about whether they feel like eating, or about the kinds of food they enjoy. The rest of the sentence makes the difference clear.
What Do “Light Mouth” and “Mouth Fit” Mean?
입이 가볍다 literally means “the mouth is light”. It describes someone who readily lets information or secrets slip. It contrasts with 입이 무겁다, “the mouth is heavy”, which describes someone who keeps confidences. Both expressions evaluate how a person handles information, rather than the physical condition of their mouth.
입에 맞다 literally means “to fit the mouth”. For food, it means “to suit someone’s taste”. A host may ask whether a meal suits you using this expression. Food can be well made and still fail to match a particular person’s taste, so the phrase expresses personal preference.
한 입 means “one bite” or “one mouthful”. The space matters: 한 gives the number and 입 supplies the mouthful unit. It is useful when offering a taste of food or asking for a small amount. It describes a portion someone can eat, rather than the number of mouths at the table.
Mouth, Lips and the Parts Inside
| Korean | Meaning | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 입술 | lips | The outer edges, such as when talking about lip balm. |
| 혀 | tongue | The part used in tasting and many speech movements. |
| 잇몸 | gums | The tissue around the teeth. |
| 입안 | inside of the mouth | The general interior rather than one tooth. |
The body vocabulary lesson places these words alongside other body parts. A phrase like 입이 말랐어요 describes the general feeling of a dry mouth. Naming 입술 or 잇몸 instead narrows the location for the listener.
When a vowel marker follows 입, the final ㅂ links forward: 입이 is pronounced [이비] and 입을 [이블]. Keep the spelling 입 in both forms. The change explains why the headword sounds like “ip” on its own while the examples begin ibi and ibeul.
입을 열다 also changes with context. At the dentist, it can simply mean opening your mouth. In a news report about a silent witness, it can mean finally speaking. Look for a physical instruction or a discussion of information before choosing the English translation.
Quick Self-Test
- Which phrase describes someone who keeps secrets: 입이 무겁다 or 입이 가볍다?
- What does 입에 맞다 mean when discussing a meal?
- Which word names the gums?
Show answers
- 입이 무겁다.
- The food suits someone’s taste.
- 잇몸.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "mouth" in Korean?
Say 입 (ip).
How do you say "lips"?
입술.
What does 입이 무겁다 mean?
It means to be tight-lipped.
What is the word for the entrance of a building?
입구.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Body groups 입 with its neighbours.
- Browse the Korean words A to Z index for words near mouth.
- Drill mouth in the vocabulary flashcard decks.