Korean word

다물다

Pronunciation

Romanizationtamulda

Meaning

  • verbstay silent

Example

친구가 질문했지만 그는 아무 대답 없이 다물었다.chin gu ga chil mun haet jji man keu neun a mu tae dap eop ssi ta mu reot tta

His friend asked a question, but he stayed silent and gave no answer.

Illustration for 다물다 (stay silent)

More examples

상대방의 말을 듣고 그녀는 잠시 말없이 다물었다.sang dae bang ui ma reul teut kko keu nyeo neun cham si ma reop ssi ta mu reot tta

Having heard what the other person said, she remained silent for a while.

Core concept

A closed mouth leaves a question unanswered because the speaker chooses not to respond.

Common phrases

  • 입을 다물다i beul ta mul da

    keep one's mouth shut

  • 말없이 다물다ma reop ssi ta mul da

    remain silent

Similar words

입을 다물다ibeul tamulda: Keeping the mouth closed without saying anything.
말하지 않다malhaji anta: Not speaking at all.
대답하지 않다taedapaji anta: Giving no reply when a question calls for one.

Definition in Korean

질문이나 상황에 대해 대답하지 않고 입을 다물어 침묵을 지키는 뜻을 가지는 동사chil mu ni na sang hwang e tae hae tae da pa ji an ko i beul ta mu reo chim mu geul chi ki neun tteu seul ka ji neun tong sa

Word origin

다물다 (damulda, "close the mouth") is a native Korean verb whose physical image extends naturally to staying silent instead of answering.

Usage tips

  • For English speakers, this word can suggest deliberate silence rather than simply having nothing to say, so it often carries a stronger sense of withholding a reply.

Other meanings

  • close one's mouthverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word