Japanese meaning of 口は災いの元

Reading: AI

くちはわざわいのもと (kuchi wa wazawai no moto)

English Translation:

Loose lips sink ships

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Careless talk can cause serious problems.

Cultural Context:

Became widely known in Japan after WWII propaganda, and remains in media cautionary advice.

軽はずみな発言が大きな問題を引き起こす可能性があるという意味。
第二次世界大戦中の標語として広まり、今も報道や注意喚起で使われる。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• 口 (kuchi) = “mouth” (noun)
• は (wa) = topic particle
• 災い (wazawai) = “misfortune” (noun)
• の (no) = possessive/attributive particle
• 元 (moto) = “source” or “origin” (noun)
Topic–comment structure with の linking a cause to an undesirable result.

Trap for English Speakers

Literal meaning may confuse learners; it’s a warning that careless words can cause harm.

Example

Basic Example

不用意な発言は避けたい、口は災いの元だからだ。

I want to avoid careless remarks, since loose lips sink ships.

Applied Example

告白前に噂を流すなんて、口は災いの元だぞ。

Spreading rumors before confessing—loose lips sink ships.