シー
shī[ɕiː]
The Japanese way to say "hush" is シー (shī).
シー is used as an interjection to tell someone to be quiet, similar to the English 'shhh'.
Meaning: to make quiet (verb)
Which one should you use?
While シー is a quick interjection like "shhh", there are other ways to request silence. Shizuka ni shite kudasai is a polite and formal way of asking someone to lower their voice or to stop making noise, whereas Shizuka ni shite is the casual version of that phrase. For more forceful or blunt commands, you might use the informal Urusai to mean "Shut up" or "Be quiet" or Damatte to mean "Be silent".
How do you pronounce it?
shī
Did you know?
- If you use the phrase Urusai to tell someone to hush, you are actually calling them 'noisy' rather than asking them to be quiet. It is a direct label of their behavior.
- The word 静か (shizuka) used in shizuka ni shite refers not just to a lack of noise, but also to a state of peacefulness or calmness.
- Using シー in a professional setting might be seen as patronizing, as it is a sound often used with children or pets.
Examples in context
- シー、静かにして。Shī, shizuka ni shite.Hush, be quiet.
- シー、赤ちゃんが寝ているよ。Shī, akachan ga nete iru yo.Hush, the baby is sleeping.
- シー、秘密だよ。Shī, himitsu da yo.Hush, it's a secret.
Example conversation
In a quiet library, Himari asks Kenta to lower his voice.
- 陽葵 Himariシー、ここは図書館だよ。Shī, koko wa toshokan da yo.Hush, this is a library.
- 健太 Kentaごめん、つい大きな声が出た。Gomen, tsui ookina koe ga deta.Sorry, I accidentally spoke too loudly.
- 陽葵 Himariもう少し静かにしてね。Mou sukoshi shizuka ni shite ne.Please be a little quieter.
- 健太 Kentaわかった、気をつけるよ。Wakatta, ki o tsukeru yo.Understood, I'll be careful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry シー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
