シー
shī[ɕiː]
The English phrase "shh" is translated into Japanese as シー (shī).
シー is used to request silence.
Meaning: requesting silence (intj)
Which one should you use?
For example, うるさい！ is a firm way to tell someone to be silent and can be considered impolite, whereas 静かにしてください is a polite and respectful way to request silence.
How do you pronounce it?
shī
Did you know?
- Making a loud シー sound in a public place can be viewed as just as disruptive as the noise the speaker is trying to stop.
- Using the sound シー toward a superior, such as a boss or teacher, is considered extremely rude and jarring due to Japanese social hierarchy.
- The use of the small っ in しーっ in text represents a glottal stop. This allows the reader to 'hear' the sudden cutting off of breath, which is a visual way to represent a sudden silence in Japanese writing.
Examples in context
- シー、赤ちゃんが寝ているよ。Shii, akachan ga nete iru yo.Shh, the baby is sleeping.
- シー！静かにして。Shii! Shizuka ni shite.Shh! Be quiet.
- シー、映画が始まるよ。Shii, eiga ga hajimaru yo.Shh, the movie is starting.
Example conversation
In a library, a boy asks a girl to be quiet.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵、シー。Himari, shii.Himari, shh.
- 陽葵 Himariごめん、つい大きな声で話しちゃった。Gomen, tsui ookina koe de hanashichatta.Sorry, I accidentally spoke too loudly.
- 陽太 Yotaここは図書館だからね。Koko wa toshokan dakara ne.It's a library here, you know.
- 陽葵 Himariわかった、気を付けるね。Wakatta, ki o tsukeru ne.Okay, I'll be careful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry シー, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
