声を呑む · godan verb (-mu)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 声を呑む | 声を呑まない |
| Polite | 声を呑みます | 声を呑みません |
| Past polite | 声を呑みました | 声を呑みませんでした |
| Past | 声を呑んだ | 声を呑まなかった |
| Te-form | 声を呑んで | 声を呑まないで |
| Desire | 声を呑みたい | 声を呑みたくない |
| Potential | 声を呑める | 声を呑めない |
| Passive | 声を呑まれる | 声を呑まれない |
| Causative | 声を呑ませる | 声を呑ませない |
| Causative passive | 声を呑ませられるalso 声を呑まされる | 声を呑ませられないalso 声を呑まされない |
| Volitional | 声を呑もう | |
| Polite volitional | 声を呑みましょう | |
| Imperative | 声を呑め | 声を呑むな |
| Conditional | 声を呑めば | 声を呑まなければ |
| Tara conditional | 声を呑んだら | 声を呑まなかったら |
choke up; be speechless
Describes being so overwhelmed by emotion (surprise, shock, awe) that one cannot speak; literally 'swallow one's voice'.
She was speechless at the beautiful scenery.
I could only choke up at the sudden news.
hold one's tongue; keep silent
Used when someone deliberately refrains from speaking, often out of discretion, fear, or respect; similar to 'bite one's tongue'.
He knew the truth but held his tongue and said nothing.