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口を閉ざす (くちをとざす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-su)
keep one's mouth shut ; refuse to talk
Used when someone deliberately stays silent, often out of stubbornness, secrecy, or emotional withdrawal. Can imply a strong, sometimes dramatic refusal to speak.
かた
く
口くち
を
閉と
ざし
て
いる
。
She is firmly refusing to talk about the incident.
Similar words 黙だま る 黙る is a general verb for 'to be silent' or 'to stop talking,' while 口を閉ざす emphasizes a deliberate, often stubborn refusal to speak.
口くち が 堅かた い 口が堅い describes a person who is tight-lipped and can keep secrets, whereas 口を閉ざす focuses on the act of shutting one's mouth in a specific situation.
Etymology Composed of 口 (mouth) + を (object marker) + 閉ざす (to shut, to close). 閉ざす is a transitive verb meaning to close or shut something firmly, often used for doors, gates, or metaphorically for hearts and mouths.
