Which one should you use?
While 静かにして is a standard request, you may encounter much harsher versions. For example, 黙れ is a much harsher, more aggressive way to command silence than 静かにして. On the other end of the spectrum, you can use more polite constructions to soften the request.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
静かにして is suitable for casual or semi-formal situations. For a formal setting, you can use 静かにしてください (shizukani shite kudasai) to say "Please be quiet." If you want to be exceptionally polite, you can combine an apology with a request by saying すみませんが、静かにお願いします (suimasen ga, shizuka ni onegaishimasu). Conversely, うるせえよ (urusee yo) is a very casual phrase that may be considered impolite or offensive and is used to express annoyance at noise.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, the imperative or command sense is often conveyed simply by using the te-form shite with an assertive intonation. To make the request polite, you can add kudasai to the end, resulting in 静かにしてください.
How do you pronounce it?
shizukani shite
Did you know?
- If you are in a library or a train in Japan, simply staying quiet is the social norm, and asking someone to be quiet with 静かにして might actually be seen as an aggressive interruption of the communal peace.
- The harsh command 黙れ (damare) comes from the verb 黙る (damaru), which describes the physical act of closing one's mouth to stop speaking.
- In highly formal business settings, instead of 'be quiet', one might use the phrase お静かに願います (oshizuka ni negaimasu) to imply that the request is a profound favor rather than a command.
Examples in context
- 静かにしてくれ。Be quiet.This sentence shows how to use 静かにして in a request.Tatoeba #142521 by small_snow, translation #1275396 by jakov
- 静かにしてなさい。Be quiet!This sentence uses 静かにして to convey a command.Tatoeba #2182828 by tommy_san, translation #430128 by sysko
- 静かにしてくれない？Will you be quiet?This sentence shows a way to phrase 静かにして as a question.Tatoeba #9511310 by small_snow, translation #2972176 by AlanF_US
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are studying together in a library.
- 陽太 Yotaねえ、ちょっと静かにして。Nee, chotto shizuka ni shite.Hey, please be quiet for a bit.
- 結衣 Yuiごめん、つい話しすぎた。Gomen, tsui hanashisugita.Sorry, I accidentally talked too much.
- 陽太 Yota周りの人に迷惑だよ。Mawari no hito ni meiwaku dayo.It's bothering the people around us.
- 結衣 Yuiわかった。もう静かにするね。Wakatta. Mou shizuka ni suru ne.I understand. I'll be quiet now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
