只字不提

zhīzì-bùtí

idiom #24,432

Meanings

1 not to mention a single word
2 to keep completely silent about something
3 to say nothing whatsoever about

Characters

only / just (here: even a single)

character / word

to mention / to raise / to bring up

Examples

HSK 3

他对昨天发生的事只字不提。

Tā duì zuótiān fāshēng de shì zhīzì-bùtí.

He said not a single word about what happened yesterday.

HSK 4

关于那次失败，他只字不提，好像什么都没发生过。

Guānyú nà cì shībài, tā zhīzì-bùtí, hǎoxiàng shénme dōu méi fāshēng guò.

About that failure, he said absolutely nothing, as if nothing had ever happened.

HSK 7-9

她在信中对自己的困境只字不提。

Tā zài xìn zhōng duì zìjǐ de kùnjìng zhīzì-bùtí.

In her letter, she didn't mention a word about her own difficulties.

Tips

usage

只字不提 emphasizes complete silence on a topic - not even a single character (字) is spoken. It often implies deliberate avoidance or a conscious decision to stay quiet about something uncomfortable.

Stroke Order

只 zhǐ

字 zì

不 bù

提 tí