噤声

噤聲

jìnshēng

verb

Meanings

Kàndào lǎoshī zǒu jìnlái, quán bān dùnshí jìnshēng.

Seeing the teacher walk in, the whole class instantly fell silent.

Jìnshēng! Bié ràng wàimiàn de rén tīngjiàn.

Be quiet! Don't let the people outside hear.

Sounds literary or theatrical — common in historical fiction and stage Chinese. Everyday equivalents: 别出声, 安静, 闭嘴 (rude).

memory

噤 (jìn) = to clam up, with the mouth radical 口; 声 = sound. Together: 'lock up your sound'.

噤 jìn

声 shēng