Japanese word

静寂

Pronunciation

Romajiseijaku

Meaning

  • nounsilence

Example

夜の森には静寂が広がっています。yoru no mori ni wa sei jaku ga hiro ga tte i ma su

Silence spreads through the forest at night.

Illustration for 静寂 (silence)

More examples

図書館では、ページをめくる音さえ静寂を破ります。to sho kan de wa pē ji o me ku ru oto sa e sei jaku o yabu ri ma su

In the library, even the sound of turning pages breaks the silence.

Core concept

Describes a space where sound and activity recede, leaving a calm, undisturbed quiet.

Common phrases

  • 静寂を破るsei jaku o yabu ru

    break the silence

  • 静寂に包まれるsei jaku ni tsutsu ma re ru

    be enveloped in silence

  • 深い静寂fuka i sei jaku

    deep silence

Similar words

静けさshizukesa: A calm state with little or no sound or disturbance.
沈黙chinmoku: A lack of speech or a deliberate refusal to speak.
無音muon: A state in which no sound is present.
しじまshijima: A deep, undisturbed silence in a place or natural setting.

Definition in Japanese

物音や話し声がなく、あたりがしんと静まり返っている状態。mono oto ya hana shi goe ga na ku a ta ri ga shi n to shizu ma ri kae tte i ru jō tai

Word origin

静 (sei, "quiet") and 寂 (jaku, "lonely and quiet") combine to form 静寂 (seijaku), a Sino-Japanese word for a deeply quiet state.

Usage tips

  • The noun 静寂 (seijaku) often describes nature and atmosphere, giving silence a more literary tone than 静か (shizuka).

Other meanings

  • quietnessnoun
  • stillnessnoun

Opposites

  • 喧騒kensōhustle and bustlenoun

Word lists with this word