Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi, tā bùyánbùyǔ, shénqíng níngzhòng.
On hearing the news, he fell silent, his expression grave.
Tips
history
Found in Feng Menglong's 《醒世恒言》 (Stories to Awaken the World, Ming dynasty), describing the lovestruck Wu Xiu'e: '坐在旁边，不言不语，如醉如痴' — 'she sat there silent, as if drunk or in a daze.'
usage
Often signals an emotional state — sadness, shock, or sulking — rather than mere quietness. For neutrally being a quiet person, use 沉默寡言 (chénmòguǎyán).
