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.
口封じのために金を渡した。
He paid hush money to keep them quiet.
証人を口封じしようとした容疑で逮捕された。
He was arrested on suspicion of attempting to silence the witness.
不祥事が明るみに出ないように、関係者の口封じが行われていた。
Those involved were silenced so that the scandal would not come to light.
USAGE:
口封じ literally means "sealing the mouth." It is commonly used with する (口封じする — to silence someone) and often appears in crime and scandal contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 口封じする (to silence someone)
- 口封じのために (in order to keep someone quiet)
- 口封じ料 (hush money)
- 口封じを図る (to attempt to silence someone)
SIMILAR WORDS:
口止め also means silencing someone or asking them to keep a secret, but 口封じ carries a stronger, more sinister connotation of forceful suppression.