jìn
唫
keep silent; keep one's mouth shut
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to keep silent; to shut one's mouth; to refrain from speaking
literaryOften used in literary or formal contexts to describe being unable or unwilling to speak, usually due to fear, cold, or astonishment. It implies a forced or involuntary silence.
Tā他
tīng听
le了
zhè这
ge个
xiāo消
xi息
，
dùn顿
shí时
jìn噤
ruò若
hán寒
chán蝉
。
Upon hearing this news, he immediately fell as silent as a cicada in winter (too scared to make a sound).
Běi北
fēng风
lǐn凛
liè冽
，
dòng冻
de得
wǒ我
kǒu口
jìn噤
nán难
kāi开
。
The north wind was bitingly cold, freezing me so that I could hardly open my mouth to speak.
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Zhòng众
rén人
zài在
wēi威
yán严
de的
fǎ法
guān官
miàn面
qián前
jìn噤
shēng声
。
The crowd fell silent in front of the stern judge.
Tā他
yī一
jù句
huà话
xià吓
de得
zài在
chǎng场
de的
rén人
jìn噤
ruò若
hán寒
chán蝉
，
wú无
rén人
gǎn敢
zài再
chū出
shēng声
。
His one sentence frightened everyone present into absolute silence; no one dared to make another sound.