silence; not saying a word
A yojijukugo meaning complete silence, refraining from speech. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
During the meeting, he maintained complete silence.
A yojijukugo composed of 不 (not), 言 (speak), 不 (not), and 語 (talk), literally 'not speaking, not talking'. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common four-character pattern for emphasizing a state or action.