HSK · Level 71
75 words
Chinese word
一声不吭
Pronunciation
Pinyinyī shēng bù kēng
Meaning
- idiomkeep silent
Example
他一声不吭地走了。tā yì shēng bù kēng dì zǒu le
He left without saying a word.
More examples
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.
Core concept
A person offers no spoken response, making silence the whole answer.
Common phrases
面对质问一声不吭miàn duì zhì wèn yì shēng bù kēng
say nothing when questioned
对记者的提问一声不吭duì jì zhě de tí wèn yì shēng bù kēng
say nothing in response to reporters' questions
在法庭上一声不吭zài fǎ tíng shàng yì shēng bù kēng
say nothing in court
Similar words
一言不发yì yán bù fā: Not uttering a word and staying entirely silent.
沉默不语chén mò bù yǔ: Keeping silent without speaking in a specific situation.
沉默寡言chén mò guǎ yán: Being habitually quiet and sparing with words.
Definition in Chinese
不说一句话、完全保持沉默，不作任何言语上的回应，语气偏口语，常用以描述人在尴尬或回避时的反应。bù shuō yí jù huà wán quán bǎo chí chén mò bú zuò rèn hé yán yǔ shàng de huí yìng yǔ qì piān kóu yǔ cháng yòng yǐ miáo shù rén zài gān gà huò huí bì shí de fǎn yìng
Word origin
The idiom combines 一声 (yīshēng, "a single sound") with 不吭 (bùkēng, "not utter a sound"), so it pictures someone giving no verbal reply.
Usage tips
- In everyday conversation, this idiom often frames silence as a noticeable response in an awkward or evasive moment, rather than as simple quietness.
Other meanings
- keep one's mouth shutidiom
Opposites
- 滔滔不绝tāo tāo bù juéspeak fluently and at lengthidiom
- 侃侃而谈kán kǎn ér tánspeak confidently and at lengthidiom
Related words
- 不吭声bù kēng shēngsay nothingverb
- 吭声kēng shēngspeak upverb