What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the honorific prefix お, the noun/adjective 静か (quiet) and the particle に which turns the word into an adverbial form meaning "quietly".
Which one should you use?
While お静かに is a polite request, you may encounter other forms depending on the situation. 静かにして is a more casual way to tell someone to be quiet, and 静かにしてください is a formal way to say "Please be quiet."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お静かに is a polite way to request silence. For more formal settings, you can say どうぞ、お静かに (Please, quietly.) or 静かにお願いします (I kindly request silence.). In contrast, 静かにして and 静かにしておくれ are informal. You should avoid using 黙れ, which is a very harsh, commanding way to tell someone to be quiet and should be avoided in polite conversation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding してください to the end of お静かに makes the request a complete, formal sentence, resulting in お静かにしてください (please be quiet).
How do you pronounce it?
oshizuka ni
When do people say it?
In a theater, a person might say どうぞ、お静かに。 (Please, quietly.) and the response would be はい、分かりました。 (Yes, understood.). When an elder sibling is talking to a younger sibling, they might use the informal 静かにしてくれ。 (Be quiet, please.), to which the younger sibling might respond あ、わかった。 (Oh, understood.).
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the concept of 'Ma' (space or intervals) is often linked to silence. Asking for お静かに is sometimes less about stopping noise and more about respecting the 'Ma', or the meaningful silence between actions.
- The root word 静か (shizuka) is often used in Japanese names to imply a calm, composed, and peaceful personality. It is a highly desirable trait in a person's character.
- When using the phrase 静かにしてください, the polite 'shite kudasai' (please do) can sometimes sound like a reprimand from a teacher or a superior. Using it toward a peer might unintentionally create a social distance that feels cold.
Examples in context
- 図書館ではお静かにしてください。Toshokan de wa oshizuka ni shite kudasai.Please be quiet in the library.
- 授業中はお静かにお願いします。Jugyōchū wa oshizuka ni onegaishimasu.Please be quiet during class.
- 病院の中ではお静かに。Byōin no naka de wa oshizuka ni.Quiet, please, inside the hospital.
Example conversation
A movie theater where a man is talking loudly.
- 陽葵 Himariすみません、お静かにしてください。Sumimasen, oshizuka ni shite kudasai.Excuse me, please be quiet.
- 蓮 Renあ、すみません。静かにします。A, sumimasen. Shizuka ni shimasu.Oh, excuse me. I will be quiet.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
- 蓮 Renいえ、失礼しました。Ie, shitsurei shimashita.No, sorry about that.
