緘かんする

か

ん

す

る

Meanings

1

suru verb (special), transitive verb

Formal or literary verb for sealing a letter, container, or opening. Often used in written instructions or official contexts.

封ふう筒とうをしっかりと緘かんする。
Seal the envelope tightly.
容よう器きの口くちを緘かんして保

ほ

存ぞん

する

。

Seal the opening of the container and store it.

2

suru verb (special), transitive verb

silence; gag; muzzle

Figurative use for suppressing speech or expression. Often implies forceful silencing of a person or group. Rare in modern conversation; more common in literary or political writing.

反はん対たい意い見けんを箝かんするような政せい策さくは許ゆるされない。
Policies that muzzle dissenting opinions are unacceptable.
彼かれらは報ほう道どう機き関かんを緘かんしようとした。
They tried to silence the press.

Written forms

緘かんするUsage83%
Standard kanji form for sealing or closing something, especially letters or containers.
箝かんするUsage17%
Rare kanji variant for silencing or muzzling, emphasizing restraint of speech.
鉗かんする
Rare kanji variant for silencing or muzzling, originally associated with metal clamps or restraints.

Kanji

緘shut, seal
箝insert, fit into, attach (a clog thong)
鉗shut up

Similar words

封ふうじる
More common verb for sealing or closing, used in both literal and figurative senses. 緘する is more formal and limited to physical sealing or literary suppression.
黙だまらせる
Causative of 黙る, meaning 'to make someone shut up'. More direct and colloquial than 緘する for silencing someone.

Etymology

Derived from classical Chinese usage. The kanji 緘 originally referred to sealing with a cord or thread, while 箝 and 鉗 relate to clamping or restraining. The verb かんする is a Sino-Japanese suru-verb formation.