活口

huókǒu

noun #11,928

Measure Word

一个活口 gè

Meanings

1 survivor who can testify
2 living witness
3 captive who can provide information

Characters

Examples

不能留活口！

Bù néng liú huókǒu!

Don't leave any witnesses alive!

他们抓了一个活口来审问。

Tāmen zhuā le yí gè huókǒu lái shěnwèn.

They captured a prisoner for interrogation.

Tips

usage

活口 is commonly used in crime, military, and wuxia contexts. 留活口 means to spare someone's life (to get information).

Stroke Order

活 huó

口 kǒu