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言葉を呑む (ことばをのむ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

言こと葉ばを呑のむ

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-mu)

choke up; be speechless

idiomatic expression

Describes being so overwhelmed by emotion that one cannot speak; often used when someone is moved, shocked, or deeply affected.

感かん謝しゃの気き持もちで言こと葉ばを呑のんだ。
I choked up with gratitude.

突とつ

然ぜん

の

知し

らせ

に

、

彼かの

女じょ

は

言こと

葉ば

を

呑の

ん

で

立た

ち

尽つ

くし

た

。

At the sudden news, she stood speechless, words failing her.

2

expression, godan verb (-mu)

hold one's tongue; bite one's tongue

idiomatic expression

Used when one deliberately refrains from saying something, often to avoid conflict or out of discretion.

彼かれは反はん論ろんしたい気き持もちを抑おさえて、言こと葉ばを呑のんだ。
He held his tongue, suppressing the urge to argue.

Written forms

言こと葉ばを呑のむ
Standard kanji spelling using 呑む, which is the preferred kanji for this idiomatic expression.
言こと葉ばをのむ
Kana spelling of the verb part; common in everyday writing.
言葉ことばを吞のむ
Variant using 吞む, an alternative kanji for のむ in this expression.
言こと葉ばを飲のむ
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 飲む is normally used for drinking, not for this idiomatic meaning.

Kanji

言say, word
葉leaf, plane, lobe
呑drink
吞swallow, absorb, annex
飲drink, smoke, take

Similar words

口くちを噤つぐむ
口を噤む means to shut one's mouth tightly, often implying a refusal to speak or a stubborn silence, while 言葉を呑む focuses on the act of swallowing one's words, either from emotion or restraint.
黙だまる
黙る is a general verb for becoming silent or not speaking, whereas 言葉を呑む is an idiomatic expression that vividly describes the moment of holding back words.

Etymology

The expression literally means 'to swallow one's words,' using the verb 呑む (to swallow) metaphorically. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a natural extension of the physical act of swallowing to the figurative act of suppressing speech.