keep one's mouth tightly shut; speak with extreme caution
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to keep one's mouth tightly shut; to be extremely cautious about speaking; to refuse to say a word
formalOriginally from Liu Xiang's 'Shuo Yuan' (Garden of Stories). The phrase literally means 'to seal one's mouth with three layers of seals.' It describes someone who is unwilling to speak due to caution, fear, or prudence. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
Miàn面
duì对
jì记
zhě者
de的
zhuī追
wèn问
，
tā他
shǐ始
zhōng终
sān三
jiān缄
qí其
kǒu口
，
jù拒
jué绝
tòu透
lù露
rèn任
hé何
xì细
jié节
。
Facing the reporters' persistent questioning, he remained tight-lipped throughout, refusing to reveal any details.
Zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
guān关
xi系
dào到
tā他
de的
qián前
tú途
，
suǒ所
yǐ以
tā他
duì对
cǐ此
sān三
jiān缄
qí其
kǒu口
。
This matter concerns his future prospects, so he is keeping mum about it.
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Gǔ古
rén人
jiǎng讲
'
sān三
jiān缄
qí其
kǒu口
'
，
tí提
xǐng醒
rén人
men们
shèn慎
yán言
miǎn免
huò祸
。
The ancients taught 'to seal one's mouth thrice,' reminding people to be cautious with their words to avoid disaster.