Translation guide
How to express being silent in Japanese, from simple quietness to formal silence.
Telling someone to be quiet or describing someone who is not speaking.
Adjective meaning 'quiet'. Used to describe a state or to ask someone to be quiet.
静かにしてください。
Please be quiet.
子供たちが静かになった。
The children became quiet.
Verb meaning 'to stop talking' or 'to fall silent'. Often used as a command: 黙れ (damare) is very rough.
The imperative 黙れ is harsh and can be offensive. Use 静かにしてください for polite requests.
Polite way to ask for silence, often used in public announcements or formal settings.
お静かにお願いします。
Please be quiet.
Literally 'shut your mouth'. Stronger and more direct than 静かに. Can be rude.
Very direct and potentially offensive. Use with caution.
口を閉じろ！
Shut your mouth!
Choosing not to speak, especially to keep a secret or avoid trouble.
The te-iru form of 黙る, meaning 'to remain silent' or 'to keep quiet' about something.
そのことについては黙っているつもりだ。
I intend to keep silent about that matter.
Literally 'not split the mouth', meaning to refuse to talk or confess.
容疑者はなかなか口を割らなかった。
The suspect wouldn't talk.
To keep a secret. Focuses on protecting information.
彼は秘密を守ると約束した。
He promised to keep the secret.
Describing a person who is habitually quiet or doesn't talk much.
Noun/adjective meaning 'taciturn' or 'reticent'. Describes a person of few words.
彼は無口な人だ。
He is a man of few words.
More formal/literary term for being quiet and not speaking much.
寡黙な職人
a taciturn craftsman
Literally 'the number of words is few', a common way to say someone is quiet.
彼女は口数が少ない。
She doesn't talk much.
Describing a silent environment or moment of silence.
Noun meaning 'silence' or 'stillness', often used for a profound quiet.
静寂が辺りを包んだ。
Silence enveloped the area.
Noun meaning 'silence', often implying a heavy or awkward silence between people.
Noun form of 静か, meaning 'quietness' or 'silence'.
The English phrase 'be silent' is often translated as 静かにする or 黙る, but direct commands like 黙れ can be extremely rude. Use 静かにしてください for polite requests.
静か refers to general quietness (sound level), while 黙る specifically means to stop talking or to keep silent. Use 静か for environments, 黙る for people's speech.
公演中はお静かにお願いします。
Please remain silent during the performance.
彼はその事件について黙っていた。
He kept silent about the incident.
彼女は無口な人です。
She is a quiet person.
彼は急に黙った。
He suddenly fell silent.
沈黙が続いた。
The silence continued.
夜の静けさが好きだ。
I like the quiet of the night.