口くちをつぐむ

く

ち

を

つ

ぐ

む

JLPTN1

Meanings

1

godan verb (-mu), expression

hold one's tongue; shut up; keep silent

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression meaning to deliberately refrain from speaking, often to keep a secret or avoid conflict. The verb つぐむ is almost exclusively used in this phrase.

彼かれは何なにも言いわずに口くちをつぐんだ。
He held his tongue and said nothing.

その話わ題だいになると、みんな口くちをつぐんでしまった。

When that topic came up, everyone clammed up.

Written forms

口くちをつぐむ
Standard spelling using the common kanji 口 and the kana verb ending.
口くちを噤つぐむ
Uses the rare kanji 噤, which is not included in the Jōyō kanji list. This spelling is uncommon and may not be widely recognized.

Kanji

口mouth
噤shut up

Similar words

黙だまる
黙る is a general verb for becoming silent or not speaking, while 口をつぐむ emphasizes a deliberate, often tight-lipped refusal to speak, like 'holding one's tongue'.
口くちを閉とざす
口を閉ざす also means to keep one's mouth shut, but can be used more literally (closing one's mouth) or figuratively. 口をつぐむ is more idiomatic and implies a conscious decision to stay silent.

Etymology

The verb つぐむ is of uncertain origin, possibly related to つぐ (to succeed, to follow) with a sense of 'to stop the flow of words'. It is almost exclusively used in the fixed expression 口をつぐむ.