TL;DR: In the Ngũ Quan system, the mouth is called Xuất Nạp quan, the gateway that receives nourishment and sends out speech. The ancients read mouth physiognomy to discuss fortune, wealth, and character through its shape, width, lips, and corners. This is a concept from face reading and physiognomy texts, not scientifically verified, so it should only be consulted as a cultural perspective.
What does the mouth mean in the Five Officials system?
Eastern physiognomy divides the face into the Five Officials, comprising the Ear (Thính quan, the Listening Official), the Eye (Sát quan, the Observing Official), the Nose (Thẩm biện quan, the Judging Official), the Eyebrow (Bảo thọ quan, the Longevity Official) and the Mouth (Xuất Nạp quan, the Official of Output and Input). Among these, the mouth plays a special role, because it is both the destination of most of the lines on the face and the symbol of communication and absorption.
The phrase "Xuất Nạp" means to give out and to take in. The mouth is where food is taken in to nourish the body, and also where speech, laughter and breath are sent out. Because of this dual nature, the physiognomy of the mouth reflects not only health and lifespan, but is also a direct indicator of a person's fortune, career and relationships.
Many articles in the Vietnamese press have also recalled that Chinese physiognomy has a long history, tied to how people in the past observed one another through the five senses, among which the mouth is an important gateway (VnExpress, "Lý giải thuật xem tướng của người Trung Quốc").
A summary table of mouth, lip and mouth-corner shapes together with their corresponding physiognomic meanings.
| Feature | Positive meaning | Negative meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Wide mouth | Spirited, generous, sociable, engaging in speech, able to hold on to wealth | Combined with thin lips, tends to talk a lot and cause misunderstandings |
| Small mouth | Introverted, discreet, careful, refined, with aesthetic taste | In men, tends to be indecisive, timid, misses opportunities |
| Mouth shaped like the character Nhất (一) | Resolute, has firm views, works by principle, suited to management and leadership | |
| Mouth shaped like an inverted Sơn (山) | Often pessimistic, prone to setbacks, a face of hardship, hard to keep happiness | |
| Thick lips | Sincere, emotionally rich, values loyalty and feeling, rich inner life | |
| Thin lips | Quick, sharp, gifted in eloquence | Sometimes cold and calculating |
| Mouth corners turned up | Optimistic, turns bad luck into good, easily wins people over | |
| Mouth corners turned down | Sorrowful, inwardly full of worry, often troubled |
What are the basic mouth shapes and their meanings?
What does a wide mouth mean?
A wide mouth is regarded as a noble physiognomy in Eastern culture. A person with a wide mouth who reveals even teeth when smiling is usually judged to be spirited, generous and sociable. They have an engaging way of speaking and are the centre of conversations. In old physiognomy books, a wide mouth is a sign of a person who can hold on to wealth and prosper in business, because they know how to broaden their connections. However, a wide mouth combined with thin lips can produce a talkative character that easily causes misunderstandings.
What does a small, delicate mouth mean?
Conversely, a small, neat mouth is often called a "cherry mouth" in women. This physiognomy is usually associated with a person who is introverted, discreet and careful in speech. They dislike noise, prefer refinement and have aesthetic taste. In men, a small mouth can be a sign of indecisiveness, of difficulty expressing personal views, and of easily missing opportunities through timidity.
What do a mouth like the character Nhất and a mouth like the character Sơn mean?
Classical physiognomy describes the mouth by its shape when closed. A closed mouth that forms a long horizontal line is called a mouth like the character Nhất (一). A person with this physiognomy is usually resolute, has firm views and works by principle, very well suited to management and leadership positions. Conversely, a mouth whose two corners curve downward when closed, like an inverted Sơn (山), usually belongs to a person who is often pessimistic and prone to setbacks. This mouth shape gives the face an air of hardship and makes it hard to keep happiness for long.
What do the lips and mouth corners mean?
What do thick lips and thin lips mean?
Thick lips express sincerity, rich emotion and a valuing of loyalty and feeling. Such a person usually has a rich inner life and loves food and material pleasures. Conversely, thin lips symbolise quickness and sharpness in speech, a gift for eloquence, but sometimes coldness and calculation. Women with thin lips are often regarded as sharp and choosy in marriage.
According to folk belief, people in the past also said that thin lips easily lead to "khẩu nghiệp", that is, easily hurting others with words; if thin lips come with drooping mouth corners, the person is additionally labelled as fond of arguing. This is folk hearsay, not a verified conclusion.
One important point is the balance between the upper and lower lips. A lower lip thicker than the upper usually belongs to a person who knows how to enjoy life and is aided by benefactors. A thicker upper lip usually belongs to a person of intense feeling who easily sacrifices for others.
What do upward-turned and downward-turned mouth corners mean?
The mouth corners are among the most important points when reading mouth physiognomy. Mouth corners that turn up naturally, even at rest, give the impression that the person is always smiling. This is the "khẩu giác khai" physiognomy, expressing optimism, turning bad luck into good, and easily winning people over. Conversely, mouth corners that turn down create a sorrowful look; this is the "khẩu giác bế" physiognomy, usually associated with a person whose inner life is full of worry and who often meets with troubles.
Correlation with other features
Mouth and Nose
The nose is regarded as the physiognomy of career and wealth. When reading the mouth, it must be placed in relation to the nose. A person with a large, high nose but a small mouth is usually someone with great ambition but lacking the communication ability to turn ideas into reality. Conversely, a small nose with a wide mouth may belong to a person who talks more than they do, whose success does not match their words. Harmony between nose and mouth creates a "tương đắc" physiognomy, which helps a career run smoothly.
Mouth and Philtrum
The philtrum, the groove between the nose and the upper lip, is closely linked to lifespan and health. A deep, wide, long philtrum usually belongs to a person in good health with a long life. When reading mouth physiognomy, people in the past always also examined the philtrum, because it determines the strength of the mouth. A shallow, short philtrum robs the mouth of its firmness, and the person is often sickly with weak vitality.
Other features to note
Teeth and tongue
Teeth are regarded as the "gateway of the mouth". White, even, strong teeth are a sign of a person with good fortune, given a good foundation by their parents. Sparse, protruding or receding teeth are regarded as flaws in physiognomy, and the person easily meets with gossip and disputes. A pink, soft tongue is the physiognomy of a person skilled in speech. A tongue with cracks or a pale colour usually belongs to a person in poor health whose words lack persuasive force.
Sound and voice
Physiognomy looks not only at static shape but also listens to dynamic sound. A clear, resonant, powerful voice is a good physiognomy, and the person easily succeeds in fields that require communication. A hoarse, dull, weak voice usually belongs to a person whose fortunes rise and fall. In conversation, a person with good physiognomy usually speaks clearly and coherently, without breaks, creating a sense of trustworthiness.
What does science say about mouth physiognomy?
Attempts to assign personality or destiny to facial features, including mouth physiognomy, have never had a solid scientific basis. In the late 19th century, Cesare Lombroso, an Italian criminologist, included "large incisors" in his list of features of what he called the "born criminal". Those who carried this direction forward, such as Earnest Hooton with The American Criminal (1939) and William Sheldon with his body-type classification, were all criticised as carrying class and racial prejudice.
In 2016, Wu Xiaolin and Zhang Xi of Shanghai Jiao Tong University published a study using a machine-learning model to predict "criminals" from face photographs. In 2017, Blaise Agüera y Arcas and Margaret Mitchell of Google, together with Alexander Todorov of Princeton University, criticised this study as physiognomy in new clothes, based on biased data. The Vietnamese press has also reviewed the controversies surrounding physiognomy in criminal research (VnExpress, "Thuyết 'nhân tướng học' trong nghiên cứu tội phạm").
Therefore, when consulting mouth physiognomy, it should be treated as a cultural perspective for self-reflection, not used to judge or discriminate against others, and certainly not used to assess a person's ability or moral worth.
Are thin lips a controversial physiognomy?
In physiognomy, thin lips are assigned to a quick-witted, sharp-spoken character; if combined with drooping mouth corners, the person is additionally labelled as fond of arguing. This is what physiognomy books say, not something that has been verified. The wording of physiognomy books should be taken only as a suggestion for observing how one speaks, not as a verdict on a person's character or destiny.
What are the practical applications of mouth physiognomy?
In communication and career
- If you have a wide mouth, thick lips and upturned mouth corners, develop your communication strengths; you are suited to fields such as business, diplomacy and the arts.
- If you have a small mouth and thin lips, you should train your confidence in speaking before crowds, and also control your words so as not to hurt others.
In health care
Physiognomy also holds that lip colour reflects the health of the internal organs. Dark lips may be linked to poor blood circulation, pale lips may indicate anaemia. These are signs to see a doctor about, rather than simply worrying about fate.
The mouth and the stars in Tử Vi Đẩu Số
In Tử Vi Đẩu Số (Vietnamese astrology), the star Cự Môn is regarded as the star of the mouth and tongue, governing eloquence and gossip. In Đẩu số tinh thành, Volume 1, Part 1, it is said that Cự Môn entering the命 palace mostly possesses fairly good eloquence, reasoned speech, a fondness for debate and commentary, yet also easily brings disaster upon oneself through words. This book also records appearance traits such as a large mouth, prominent thick lips, and a high, fast voice. Some Tử Vi texts, when discussing Cự Môn Hóa Kị under the Đinh stem along with dental and oral problems, state that the argumentative characteristic of Cự Môn when meeting Hóa Kỵ is amplified in a negative direction; therefore, it should be assessed on the basis of the overall interaction between star, palace, period and the five elements, rather than examining a single factor in isolation. This is the method of interpretation within the Tử Vi system, different from pure physiognomy, and it is also not a medical conclusion.
The mouth in feng shui and loan đầu
In the book Nhập môn loan đầu: tầm long điểm huyệt, when discussing the forms of land that gather qi around a burial site, the author uses comparative images such as "hà tu thủy" (shrimp whiskers) and mentions a shape resembling a lip when viewed from the site outward. This is a manner of comparison in the feng shui of yin dwellings, not directly related to the mouth physiognomy of people, but it shows that the image of the mouth was still used by people in the past as a metaphor in observing terrain.
Frequently asked questions
Is mouth physiognomy accurate?
Physiognomy is a tradition of observation and interpretation with a long history in the East, but there is no scientific evidence that it correctly predicts a person's character or destiny. You can view it as a way of reflecting on yourself; it should not be used to judge others.
Is a wide mouth necessarily a physiognomy of wealth and nobility?
There is no basis for asserting that. In physiognomy books, a wide mouth is regarded as a good sign for spirit and communication, but it must be placed within the whole face and many other factors. This is a notion from physiognomy books, not something that has been verified.
Are dark lips or pale lips a bad omen?
According to physiognomy, lip colour may reflect the health of the internal organs, but this is only a notion. If your lips are frequently dark or pale, you should see a doctor to check your health rather than simply worrying about fate.
