Meaning
闭口 literally means 'to close one's mouth' and is commonly used to tell someone to stop talking or to describe refusing to speak. It can be used as a direct command (often considered rude) or to describe someone choosing to remain silent about something.
Usage
When used as a command (闭口！), it's quite blunt and can be offensive, similar to 'shut up!' in English. More polite alternatives exist for everyday situations. It's also used in more neutral contexts to describe someone choosing not to speak about a topic, as in 闭口不谈 (to refuse to discuss). The expression 闭口不言 means to remain completely silent.
Examples
- 01他对这件事闭口不谈，谁问都不说。, .He refuses to discuss this matter; he won't say anything no matter who asks.
- 02老师让那个吵闹的学生闭口。.The teacher told that noisy student to be quiet.
Characters
Common collocations
- 闭口不谈to refuse to discuss, to keep mum about
- 闭口不言to remain silent, to say nothing
- 闭口不提to avoid mentioning, to not bring up
Antonyms
Origin
Compound word combining 闭 (to close/shut) and 口 (mouth), creating a straightforward literal meaning that extends to the figurative sense of keeping quiet or refusing to speak.