口(くち)をつぐむ

くちをつぐむ
expression; godan verb
to keep silent; to clam up; to shut one's mouth
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
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

NUANCE:
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
general
Added 2026.4.1 5:18
21000/21119_kuchiwotsugumu