keep silent; hold one's tongue
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to keep one's mouth shut; to hold one's tongue; to remain silent (often deliberately)
literaryLiterary register (书). Commonly used in the phrase 缄口不语. Implies a deliberate choice to remain silent, often due to caution, fear, or prohibition.
Tā他
duì对
cǐ此
jiān缄
kǒu口
bù不
yǔ语
。
He remained tight-lipped about this matter.
Miàn面
duì对
jì记
zhě者
de的
tí提
wèn问
，
tā他
xuǎn选
zé择
jiān缄
kǒu口
bù不
yán言
。
Facing the reporters' questions, he chose to hold his tongue.
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Gǔ古
rén人
qiáng强
diào调
jūn君
zǐ子
sān三
jiān缄
qí其
kǒu口
。
The ancients emphasized that a gentleman should be thrice careful with his words.