Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use this when a group of people unexpectedly or firmly says the exact same thing about a situation.
- Means: Multiple people giving the same opinion or account simultaneously.
- Used in: News reports, office gossip, or describing a group's reaction.
- Don't confuse: With just 'talking at once'; it implies 'saying the same thing'.
شرح بمستواك:
المعنى
For multiple people to say the same thing at the same time or agree completely.
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase highlights the importance of 'consensus' in Japanese society. It is often used in media to show that a certain feeling is shared by the 'general public' ({世論|よろん}). In Japanese companies, presenting a united front is crucial. If a team {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて a proposal, it carries much more weight than individuals speaking separately. In Japanese detective dramas, this phrase is a staple. When suspects have perfectly matching stories, it actually makes the detective suspicious that they {口|くち}を{合|あ}わせた (coordinated) rather than just {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えた.
Use it for emphasis
Don't just say 'everyone said.' Use this phrase to show that you were impressed or surprised by how identical their opinions were.
Check the number of people
Ensure there are at least two, preferably three or more people involved before using this idiom.
Use it for emphasis
Don't just say 'everyone said.' Use this phrase to show that you were impressed or surprised by how identical their opinions were.
Check the number of people
Ensure there are at least two, preferably three or more people involved before using this idiom.
News Watch
Listen for this phrase in Japanese news. It's the #1 way they describe public consensus or witness reports.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form.
{目撃者|もくげきしゃ}たちは{口|くち}（ ）{揃|そろ}（ ）、{犯人|はんにん}の{顔|かお}を{見|み}ていないと{言|い}った。
The standard idiom is {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて.
Which situation best fits the use of {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}える?
Choose the best context:
The idiom is used when multiple people express the same opinion or information.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {新|あたら}しい{先生|せんせい}、どう？ B: クラスのみんな、（ ）「{教|おし}え{方|かた}が上手だ」って{言|い}ってるよ。
{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて is used to show that everyone in the class has the same opinion.
Match the idiom to the nuance.
Match: 1. {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}える, 2. {口|くち}を{合|あ}わせる
{口|くち}を{合|あ}わせる often implies people 'synced' their stories on purpose (often to lie).
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
5 تمارين{目撃者|もくげきしゃ}たちは{口|くち}（ ）{揃|そろ}（ ）、{犯人|はんにん}の{顔|かお}を{見|み}ていないと{言|い}った。
The standard idiom is {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて.
Choose the best context:
The idiom is used when multiple people express the same opinion or information.
A: {新|あたら}しい{先生|せんせい}、どう？ B: クラスのみんな、（ ）「{教|おし}え{方|かた}が上手だ」って{言|い}ってるよ。
{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて is used to show that everyone in the class has the same opinion.
Match: 1. {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}える, 2. {口|くち}を{合|あ}わせる
{口|くち}を{合|あ}わせる often implies people 'synced' their stories on purpose (often to lie).
🎉 النتيجة: /5
الأسئلة الشائعة
5 أسئلةYes, you can use it for two people if they say the same thing at the same time or share the exact same opinion.
No, it's neutral. It can be used for praise ('Everyone praised him') or complaints ('Everyone complained about the weather').
'Ikudouon' is a formal four-character idiom used mostly in writing. '{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}える' is much more common in daily speech.
Not necessarily. It can mean they spoke at the same time, OR that they gave the same opinion at different times.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal writing and journalism.
عبارات ذات صلة
{異口同音|いくどうおん}
synonymDifferent mouths, same sound.
{口|くち}を{合|あ}わせる
similarTo coordinate stories.
{足並|あしなみ}を{揃|そろ}える
builds onTo keep in step with others.
{口|くち}が{滑|すべ}る
contrastA slip of the tongue.
أين تستخدمها
Complaining about a difficult exam
Student A: {今日|きょう}のテスト、{難|むずか}しすぎなかった？
Student B: うん、みんな{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えてそう{言|い}ってるよ。
Reporting witness accounts
Reporter: {目撃者|目撃者}は{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて、{犯人|はんにん}は{黒|くろ}い{服|ふく}を{着|き}ていたと{証言|しょうげん}しています。
Office gossip about a new policy
Employee A: {新|あたら}しいルール、どう{思|おも}う？
Employee B: みんな{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて「{不便|ふべん}だ」って{文句|もんく}を{言|い}ってるよ。
Family deciding on dinner
Mom: {夕飯|ゆうはん}、何がいい？
Kids: {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて「ピザ！」
Job interview feedback
HR Manager: {面接官|めんせつかん}たちは{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて、{彼|かれ}のスキルを{高|たか}く{評価|ひょうか}しました。
Reviewing a popular restaurant
User A: このラーメン{屋|や}、どうかな？
User B: ネットのレビューでは、みんな{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて「{並|なら}ぶ{価値|かち}がある」って{書|か}いてあるよ。
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Think of a 'Choir of Mouths' (Kuchi) that are all 'Sorted/Aligned' (Soroeru) to sing the same note.
ربط بصري
Imagine five people standing in a row, and as they speak, their mouths turn into identical puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together.
Rhyme
Kuchi o soroete, everyone's in the know-ete!
Story
A group of suspects is in a police station. The detective asks each one what happened. One by one, they say 'I was at home.' The detective sighs and says, 'You all {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて (aligned your mouths) to tell the same lie!'
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'to speak with one voice' or 'to say in unison.' In Korean, the expression is almost identical: '입을 모으다' (to gather mouths).
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Try to describe a time when your family or friends all agreed on something using '{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて'.
Review this phrase whenever you see a group of people agreeing in an anime or news clip. It's a 'group agreement' marker.
النطق
Standard 'ku' and 'chi' sounds. No special voicing.
The 'r' is a Japanese flap, similar to a quick 'd' or 'l'.
طيف الرسمية
{皆様|みなさま}、{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えてそのように{仰|おっしゃ}っております。 (Reporting a consensus)
みんな、{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えてそう{言|い}っています。 (Reporting a consensus)
みんな、{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えてそう{言|い}ってるよ。 (Reporting a consensus)
みんな{同|おな}じことばっか{言|い}ってんね。 (Reporting a consensus)
The phrase comes from the physical act of 'lining up' ({揃|そろ}える) one's 'mouth' ({口|くち}) with others. It likely originated in the Edo period to describe groups of people (like merchants or villagers) who spoke as a single entity when dealing with officials.
حقيقة ممتعة
Despite involving the word 'mouth,' this idiom is never used to describe eating habits—only speaking!
ملاحظات ثقافية
The phrase highlights the importance of 'consensus' in Japanese society. It is often used in media to show that a certain feeling is shared by the 'general public' ({世論|よろん}).
“{国民|こくみん}が{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて{増税|ぞうぜい}に{反対|はんたい}している。”
In Japanese companies, presenting a united front is crucial. If a team {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて a proposal, it carries much more weight than individuals speaking separately.
“{開発|かいはつ}チームは{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて{納期|のうき}の{延長|えんちょう}を{求|もと}めた。”
In Japanese detective dramas, this phrase is a staple. When suspects have perfectly matching stories, it actually makes the detective suspicious that they {口|くち}を{合|あ}わせた (coordinated) rather than just {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えた.
“{三人|さんにん}の{証言|しょうげん}が{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えたように{同|おな}じなのはおかしい。”
بدايات محادثة
{最近|さいきん}、みんなが{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて「いい」と{言|い}っている{映画|えいが}やアニメは何ですか？
{子供|こども}の{頃|ころ}、きょうだいや{友達|ともだち}と{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて{親|おや}に{何|なに}かをおねだりしたことはありますか？
أخطاء شائعة
{口|くち}を{合|あ}わせて「おいしい」と{言|い}った。
{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて「おいしい」と{言|い}った。
L1 Interference
{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}う。
{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}える。
L1 Interference
{二人|ふたり}は{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて{話|はな}した。
{二人|ふたり}は{同時|どうじ}に{話|はな}した。
L1 Interference
{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて{食|た}べる。
N/A
In Other Languages
To speak with one voice / To say in unison
Japanese focuses on the 'mouths' being aligned rather than the 'voice' being one.
Decir al unísono / Ponerse de acuerdo
Spanish lacks a specific 'mouth' metaphor for this situation.
Dire d'une seule voix
French uses 'voice' (voix) while Japanese uses 'mouth' (kuchi).
Wie aus einem Munde
The German version is slightly more formal/poetic than the Japanese.
بصوت واحد (Bisawt wahid)
Focuses on the 'sound' (sawt) rather than the 'mouth'.
异口同音 (Yì kǒu tóng yīn)
The Chinese version is a formal Chengyu, whereas {口|くち}を{揃|そろ}える is a more common verbal phrase.
입을 모으다 (Ibeul moeuda)
The verb is 'gather' (moeuda) instead of 'align' (soroeru).
Falar a uma só voz
Lacks the specific 'mouth' imagery.
Spotted in the Real World
“{近所|きんじょ}の{住民|じゅうみん}は{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて「{信|しん}じられない」と{話|はな}しています。”
Reporting on a local surprise event or accident.
“{部下|ぶか}たちが{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}えて{君|きみ}の{不正|ふせい}を{告発|こくはつ}しているんだぞ！”
A dramatic scene where a group of subordinates turns against a corrupt boss.
سهل الخلط
Both start with '{口|くち}を' and use a verb starting with 'S' or 'T'.
Remember that {揃|そろ}える (Soroeru) means 'to align' (like a row), while {尖|とが}らせる means 'to pout' (like a point).
Both are idioms about speaking.
{口|くち}を{割|わ}る means 'to confess' (break the mouth open), while {揃|そろ}える is about agreement.
الأسئلة الشائعة (5)
Yes, you can use it for two people if they say the same thing at the same time or share the exact same opinion.
usage contextsNo, it's neutral. It can be used for praise ('Everyone praised him') or complaints ('Everyone complained about the weather').
basic understanding'Ikudouon' is a formal four-character idiom used mostly in writing. '{口|くち}を{揃|そろ}える' is much more common in daily speech.
comparisonsNot necessarily. It can mean they spoke at the same time, OR that they gave the same opinion at different times.
usage contextsYes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal writing and journalism.
grammar mechanics
