Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 沈黙 | chinmoku | [t͡ɕĩmːo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 静寂 | seijaku | |
| 黙秘 | mokuhi |
Japanese uses different words to describe various types of silence. 沈黙 refers to a silence of speech, such as a pause in a conversation or a person's intentional decision to remain quiet. On the other hand, 静寂 describes a peaceful, tranquil silence, often found in nature or a quiet room. For the specific legal context of a suspect exercising the right to remain silent, use 黙秘. If you want to tell someone to be quiet using an onomatopoeia similar to the English "shhh", you can use シッ.
Which one should you use?
沈黙 is the standard term for a silence of speech or a pause in a conversation. 静寂 is a more literary term used to signify tranquility or serenity rather than just the absence of sound. 黙秘 is a specialized term used in legal contexts, such as the right to remain silent.
How do you pronounce it?
chinmoku
Did you know?
- The kanji for 沈黙 contains the character 沈, which means 'to sink', suggesting that this kind of silence is like sinking beneath the surface of water.
- The concept of 'ma' (間) describes the meaningful silence or space between sounds and actions. Unlike the English 'silence' which implies a lack of something, 'ma' is treated as a structural element that gives shape and beauty to music and art.
- To describe a silence that is awkward or uncomfortable, Japanese speakers often use the phrase 沈黙が流れる (chinmoku ga nagareru), which literally translates to 'silence flows'.
Examples in context
- 沈黙は苦手でね。I don't like silence.This sentence uses 沈黙 to express a dislike of silence.Tatoeba #12957103 by small_snow, translation #2150439 by Hybrid
- 再び沈黙があった。There was another silence.This sentence uses 沈黙 to describe a recurrence of silence.Tatoeba #10907934 by SomeHungryBois, translation #10907920 by CM
- 短い沈黙があった。There was a short silence.This sentence uses 沈黙 to describe a brief period of silence.Tatoeba #10907944 by SomeHungryBois, translation #10907924 by CM
- うるさいから黙ってBe quiet because it's noisy.
- 何も言わずにいるとよくないIt's not good to stay silent.
- 沈黙が続き、会議室は静かになった。Silence followed, and the meeting room became quiet.
- シッ、誰かが来るかもしれないから黙っていて。Shhh, someone might come, so be quiet.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are sitting in a quiet park.
- 陽太 Yota心地よい沈黙だね。Kokochiyoi chinmoku dane.It is a pleasant silence.
- 美咲 Misakiうん、本当に落ち着くよ。Un, hontou ni ochitsuku yo.Yeah, it's really relaxing.
- 陽太 Yota美咲は静かな場所が好き？Misaki wa shizuka na basho ga suki?Misaki, do you like quiet places?
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くんと一緒にいるなら好きだよ。Youta-kun to issho ni iru nara suki dayo.If I'm with you, Youta, I like them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silence” translations and entries 沈黙, 静寂, 黙秘, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
