Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 조용히 하다 | joyonghi hada | |
| 침묵하다 | chimmukhada | [t͡ɕʰimmukʰa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 말하지 않다 | malhaji anta |
The phrase is used to describe either the state of being quiet or the act of making a noisy environment quiet. When you want to focus specifically on the absence of speech rather than the atmosphere of quietness, you may use the more literal expression 말하지 않다.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression 조용히 하다 uses the adverb 조용히, which means 'quietly' and is derived from the adjective 조용하다 (to be quiet).
Which one should you use?
조용히 하다 is the common way to refer to being quiet or making a place quiet. 침묵하다 is a formal and literary term used to describe a deliberate or profound silence, such as a silence in a courtroom or a philosophical silence. 말하지 않다 is the most literal way to express 'not to speak', focusing on the specific lack of verbal communication.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 조용히 해 is a casual imperative used with friends or younger people. The form 조용히 하세요 is the polite imperative used to request silence from others respectfully.
How do you pronounce it?
joyonghi hada
Did you know?
- The term 침묵하다 is composed of Sino-Korean characters that literally mean 'sinking' and 'silence', evoking the image of a heavy or deep quiet.
- The word 조용히 is actually a native Korean adaptation of the Sino-Korean word 종용히, which meant 'calmly'.
- In Korean culture, the shift from 조용히 해 to 조용히 하세요 is not just a change in words, but a dramatic shift in social hierarchy and respect.
Example sentences for Korean are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “keep quiet” translations and entries 침묵하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 않다, 조용히, 침묵하다, 하다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
