声こえを呑のむ

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-mu)

choke up; be speechless

idiomatic expression

Describes being so overwhelmed by emotion (surprise, shock, awe) that one cannot speak; literally 'swallow one's voice'.

その美うつくしい景色けしきに、彼かの女じょは声こえを呑のんだ。
She was speechless at the beautiful scenery.

突とつ

然ぜん

の

知し

らせ

に

、

私わたし

は

声こえ

を

呑の

む

ばかり

だっ

た

。

I could only choke up at the sudden news.

2

expression, godan verb (-mu)

hold one's tongue; keep silent

idiomatic expression

Used when someone deliberately refrains from speaking, often out of discretion, fear, or respect; similar to 'bite one's tongue'.

彼かれは真しん実じつを知しっていたが、声こえを呑のんで何なにも言いわなかった。
He knew the truth but held his tongue and said nothing.

Written forms

声こえを呑のむ
Standard kanji spelling using 呑む, which carries the nuance of swallowing or suppressing.
声こえを吞のむ
Variant using the shinjitai form 吞; less common but still seen.
声こえをのむ
Kana spelling for the verb part; common in everyday writing.
声こえを飲のむ
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 飲む normally means 'to drink', so this spelling is not standard for this idiom.

Kanji

声voice
呑drink
吞swallow, absorb, annex
飲drink, smoke, take

Similar words

言こと葉ばを呑のむ
Similar idiom meaning 'to hesitate to speak' or 'to swallow one's words', but focuses on the words themselves rather than the voice.
息いきを呑のむ
Means 'to gasp' or 'to catch one's breath' from surprise or beauty; more about a sudden intake of breath than losing one's voice.

Etymology

The expression literally means 'to swallow one's voice'. The verb 呑む (nomu) is used figuratively for suppressing something, similar to 'swallowing' emotions or words. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a natural extension of the physical act of swallowing to the metaphorical suppression of speech.