口封(くちふう)じ

くちふうじ
noun
silencing someone; hush money
communication
1. silencing someone; gagging; shutting someone up
The act of preventing someone from speaking about something, whether through threats, bribery, or other means. Also refers to the bribe or means used to keep someone quiet.
口封(くちふう)じのために金(かね)を渡(わた)した。
He paid hush money to keep them quiet.
証人(しょうにん)を口封(くちふう)じしようとした容疑(ようぎ)で逮捕(たいほ)された。
He was arrested on suspicion of attempting to silence the witness.
不祥事(ふしょうじ)が明(あか)るみに出(で)ないように、関係者(かんけいしゃ)の口封(くちふう)じが行(おこな)われていた。
Those involved were silenced so that the scandal would not come to light.

Usage

口封(くちふう)じ literally means "sealing the mouth." It is commonly used with する (口封(くちふう)じする — to silence someone) and often appears in crime and scandal contexts.

Common collocations

Similar words

口止(くちど)め also means silencing someone or asking them to keep a secret, but 口封(くちふう)じ carries a stronger, more sinister connotation of forceful suppression.

Related Words

Synonym: 口止(くちど)め (keeping a secret (milder))
general
Added 2026.3.9 9:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15946_kuchifuuji