Meaning
闭嘴 literally means 'close mouth' and is the direct, blunt way to tell someone to stop talking. It carries a rude or impatient tone in most contexts, similar to 'shut up' in English. While it can be used playfully among close friends, it's generally considered impolite when said to strangers or in formal situations.
Usage
This expression is fairly aggressive and should be used carefully. In polite contexts, consider softer alternatives like 别说了 (bié shuō le) or 安静 (ān jìng). Among friends, 闭嘴 can be teasing or joking, but tone and relationship matter greatly. It's commonly used as a sharp command or retort when someone is annoying or saying something unwelcome.
Examples
- 01你能不能闭嘴？我在工作！? !Can you shut up? I'm working!
- 02他生气地对她说：闭嘴，别再说了。: , .He said to her angrily: Shut up, don't say anymore.
Characters
Common collocations
- 给我闭嘴shut up! (emphatic)
- 你闭嘴you shut up
- 快闭嘴shut up quickly
Antonyms
Origin
The compound combines 闭 (to close) with 嘴 (mouth), creating a straightforward literal meaning that has been used for centuries in Chinese to command silence.