English–Chinese
“keep silent” in Chinese
Chinese
Pronunciation
Pinyinyī shēng bù kēng
Example
他一声不吭地走了。tā yì shēng bù kēng dì zǒu le
He left without saying a word.
How to say “keep silent” in Chinese
“Keep silent” in Chinese is 一声不吭 (yī shēng bù kēng).
A person offers no spoken response, making silence the whole answer.
Example sentences with 一声不吭
记者追问敏感细节时，证人一声不吭，法庭顿时寂静无声。jì zhě zhuī wèn mín gǎn xì jié shí zhèng rén yì shēng bù kēng fǎ tíng dùn shí jì jìng wú shēng
When the reporter asked the witness again about sensitive details, the witness said nothing, and the courtroom suddenly fell completely silent.
Tips for using 一声不吭
- In everyday conversation, this idiom often frames silence as a noticeable response in an awkward or evasive moment, rather than as simple quietness.