口(くち)をつぐむ

くちをつぐむ

expression, verb (godan)

to keep silent; to clam up; to shut one's mouth

自動詞 intransitivecommunication

Conjugation

	Affirmative	Negative
Present	口(くち)をつぐむ	口(くち)をつぐまない
Present polite	口(くち)をつぐみます	口(くち)をつぐみません
Past	口(くち)をつぐんだ	口(くち)をつぐまなかった
Past polite	口(くち)をつぐみました	口(くち)をつぐみませんでした
て form	口(くち)をつぐんで	口(くち)をつぐまなくて
ている present	口(くち)をつぐんでいる	口(くち)をつぐんでいない
ている polite	口(くち)をつぐんでいます	口(くち)をつぐんでいません
ている past	口(くち)をつぐんでいた	口(くち)をつぐんでいなかった
ている past polite	口(くち)をつぐんでいました	口(くち)をつぐんでいませんでした
Conditional ば	口(くち)をつぐめば	口(くち)をつぐまなければ
Conditional たら	口(くち)をつぐんだら	口(くち)をつぐまなかったら
Volitional	口(くち)をつぐもう	—
Volitional polite	口(くち)をつぐみましょう	—
Potential	口(くち)をつぐめる	口(くち)をつぐめない
Passive	口(くち)をつぐまれる	口(くち)をつぐまれない
Causative	口(くち)をつぐませる	口(くち)をつぐませない
Imperative	口(くち)をつぐめ	口(くち)をつぐむな

1. to keep silent; to clam up; to shut one's mouth

To deliberately remain silent, especially when pressured to speak or when the topic is sensitive. Implies a conscious choice to withhold information or opinion.

彼(かれ)は口(くち)をつぐんだ。

He clamped his mouth shut.

その話題(わだい)になると、皆(みな)口(くち)をつぐむ。

Everyone clams up when that topic comes up.

証人(しょうにん)は裁判(さいばん)で口(くち)をつぐんで何(なに)も話(はな)さなかった。

The witness kept silent at the trial and said nothing.

不正(ふせい)について知(し)っていても、関係者(かんけいしゃ)は口(くち)をつぐんでいる。

Even though they know about the wrongdoing, those involved are keeping quiet.

An idiomatic expression meaning to deliberately keep silent. The verb つぐむ means to close or seal (the lips), so the literal image is of pressing one's lips together to prevent words from coming out.

Common patterns

口(くち)をつぐむ: to clam up, go silent
口(くち)をつぐんで黙(だま)る: to shut one's mouth and stay quiet
固(かた)く口(くち)をつぐむ: to keep one's mouth firmly shut

Usage

Implies deliberate silence — the person has something they could say but chooses not to. Often used in contexts involving secrets, scandals, or uncomfortable truths. Different from simply being quiet (黙(だま)る), which doesn't necessarily imply withholding information.

Similar words

黙(だま)る: to be silent — general silence; not necessarily deliberate withholding
口(くち)を閉(と)ざす: to seal one's lips — very similar, slightly more literary
黙秘(もくひ)する: to exercise the right to remain silent — legal term

Related Words

Compare: 黙(だま)る (to be silent)

Compare: 口(くち)を閉(と)ざす (to seal one's lips)

Compare: 黙秘(もくひ) (to exercise the right to remain silent)

Compare: 黙(だま)り込(こ)む (to fall silent)

general

Added 2026.4.1 5:18 · Revised 2026.9.21 5:25

21000/21119_kuchiwotsugumu