闭嘴
The English phrase "shut your mouth" can be translated into Chinese as 闭嘴.
闭嘴 is used to mean 'Shut up' or 'Be quiet'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 闭嘴 is composed of 闭 (bì), meaning 'to close' and 嘴 (zuǐ), meaning 'mouth'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
闭嘴 is an informal expression. It is blunt and can be perceived as rude or aggressive depending on the tone.
Did you know?
- Depending on the tone, saying 闭嘴 to a close friend can be seen as playful banter, but saying it to an elder is a severe breach of Confucian filial piety.
- The character 闭 (bì) originally depicted a door being bolted shut, mirroring the physical action of sealing a room rather than just closing a lid.
- The word 嘴 (zuǐ) for 'mouth' is also used in the term 嘴甜, which literally means 'sweet mouth' to describe someone who is flattering or charming.
Examples in context
- 你不停地讲话 (Nǐ bù tíng de jiǎnghuà)。闭嘴吧 (Bìzuǐ ba)。You keep talking. Shut up.
- 好吧，我现在闭嘴 (Hǎo ba, wǒ xiànzài bìzuǐ)。Alright, I'll shut up now.
- 你给我闭嘴！Nǐ gěi wǒ bìzuǐ!Shut your mouth right now!
- 闭嘴，别说了。Bìzuǐ, bié shuō le.Shut your mouth and stop talking.
- 他大喊着让我闭嘴。Tā dàhǎnzhe ràng wǒ bìzuǐ.He shouted at me to shut my mouth.
Example conversation
Wei and Jiayi are having a heated argument in a park.
- 伟 Wei你能不能闭嘴？Nǐ néng bù néng bìzuǐ?Can you just shut your mouth?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我明明在说真话！Wǒ míngmíng zài shuō zhēnhuà!I am clearly telling the truth!
- 伟 Wei闭嘴！我不想听了。Bìzuǐ! Wǒ bù xiǎng tīng le.Shut your mouth! I don't want to listen anymore.
- 佳怡 Jiayi伟，你太没礼貌了。Wěi, nǐ tài méi lǐmào le.Wei, you are being so rude.
