閉嘴 / 闭嘴
bìzuǐ
The English phrase "shut up" can be translated into Chinese as 閉嘴 / 闭嘴 (bìzuǐ). Wiktionary also lists 住口 (zhùkǒu).
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 閉嘴 / 闭嘴 | bìzuǐ |
| 住口 | zhùkǒu |
The most common and straightforward way to say shut up is 閉嘴 / 闭嘴. This phrase is frequently used during heated arguments or when someone is being extremely annoying. For a less harsh way to tell someone to stop talking in informal settings, you can use 别说话 (bié shuōhuà). If you wish to request silence in a polite, formal manner, use 请停止讲话 (qǐng tíngzhǐ jiǎnghuà).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 閉嘴 is composed of 閉 (close) and 嘴 (mouth).
Which one should you use?
While both mean to stop talking, 閉嘴 is more blunt and can be perceived as more rude or aggressive than 住口. In contrast, 住口 is a more formal or literary way to command someone to stop talking.
How do you pronounce it?
bìzuǐ
Did you know?
- Because 閉嘴 is so blunt, using it in a professional setting in China can be grounds for a formal HR complaint or a serious rift in a working relationship.
- If you use 住口 (zhùkǒu) in a period drama, it sounds like a powerful official or an elder commanding respect, whereas in modern life, it can sound overly dramatic or even theatrical.
- The word 嘴 (mouth) is used in many Chinese idioms to describe someone's personality, such as 嘴甜 meaning 'sweet mouth' for someone who gives compliments.
Examples in context
- 你現在可以住口了。You can shut up now.This sentence shows how to use 住口 to tell someone they can stop talking now.Tatoeba #6073876 by verdastelo9604, translation #5629440 by Hybrid
- 我認為湯姆不會住口。I thought Tom would never shut up.This sentence uses 住口 to describe someone who will never stop talking.Tatoeba #6075488 by verdastelo9604, translation #1938801 by CK
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
