口八丁手八丁

Japanese

Kanji in this term
口	八	丁	手	八	丁
くち Grade: 1	はつ > はっ Grade: 1	ちょう Grade: 3	て Grade: 1	はつ > はっ Grade: 1	ちょう Grade: 3
kun'yomi	on'yomi		kun'yomi	on'yomi

Alternative forms

• 口(くち)も八(はっ)丁手(ちょうて)も八(はっ)丁(ちょう) (kuchi mo hatchō te mo hatchō)

Etymology

Literally, “skilled mouth, skilled hands”, from 口 (“mouth”) +‎ 八丁 (“skill”, literally “eight tools”) +‎ 手 (“hand”) +‎ 八丁.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kɯ̟t͡ɕiha̠t̚t͡ɕo̞ːte̞ha̠t̚t͡ɕo̞ː]

Noun

口(くち)八(はっ)丁(ちょう)手(て)八(はっ)丁(ちょう) • (kuchi hatchō te hatchō) 

1. one who is able to both talk and do; an eloquent speaker and a skilled worker; one who works as well as talks
2. (usually sarcastic) a sweet talker, a smooth talker; one who talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk

See also

• 八(はっ)丁(ちょう) (hatchō, “skill; skillfulness”)