not make a sound; keep quiet
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb phrase
to remain silent; not utter a word
informalUsed when someone deliberately chooses not to speak or make any sound. It can imply silence due to shyness, disapproval, thoughtfulness, or secrecy.
Wǒ我
wèn问
le了
tā他
sān三
biàn遍
，
tā他
dōu都
dī低
zhe着
tóu头
bù不
zī吱
shēng声
。
I asked him three times, but he kept his head down and didn't say a word.
Tīng听
dào到
zhè这
ge个
xiāo消
xi息
，
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
chén沉
mò默
le了
，
shuí谁
yě也
bù不
zī吱
shēng声
。
When they heard the news, everyone fell silent, and no one spoke.
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Zhè这
hái孩
zi子
jiàn见
le了
shēng生
rén人
jiù就
bù不
zī吱
shēng声
。
This child clams up when meeting strangers.
Guān关
yú于
nà那
jiàn件
shì事
，
tā他
shǐ始
zhōng终
bù不
zī吱
shēng声
，
hǎo好
xiàng像
shén什
me么
dōu都
bù不
zhī知
dào道
。
Regarding that matter, he has kept silent all along, as if he knows nothing.