一声不吭

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: yī shēng bù kēng
• English Translation: Not saying a single word (to keep mum)
• Idiom Composition: 「一」（One; a single）＋「声」（Sound; voice）＋「不」（Not）＋「吭」（To utter or make a sound from the throat）
• Meaning: To not utter a single word; to remain completely silent, often implying an underlying reason like dissatisfaction, endurance, or secrecy.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「一声不吭」 contains the following nuances:

• Absolute Silence: The character 吭 (kēng) refers to a sound made from the throat. Not even making this sound emphasizes a state of total silence.
• Intentionality: This phrase often carries a psychological nuance, suggesting the person is "choosing" not to speak, perhaps because they are sulking, enduring pain, or hiding something.
• Colloquial Tone: Compared to the more formal 一言不发 (yī yán bù fā), this idiom is very common in daily spoken Chinese.

3. Usage

「一声不吭」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Dissatisfaction or Sulking: Describes a situation where someone remains silent because they are angry or dissatisfied and do not want to speak to the other person.
  • Example:「被批评后，他坐在角落里一声不吭。」
    （After being criticized, he sat in the corner and didn't say a word.）
• Focus or Endurance: Describes working silently without complaint or enduring pain without making a sound.
  • Example:「虽然受了伤，但他咬着牙一声不吭，坚持完成了比赛。」
    （Although he was injured, he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a single sound, persevering until the end of the match.）
• Secrecy or Stealth: Refers to acting secretly without telling anyone, or refusing to speak even when questioned.
  • Example:「他拿了行李，一声不吭地离开了家。」
    （He took his luggage and left home without saying a word.）

Additional Examples:

1. 不管大家怎么问，他都一声不吭。
   （No matter how much everyone asked, he remained completely silent.）
2. 平时他总是滔滔不绝，今天却一声不吭，真奇怪。
   （Usually he is always talking, but today he hasn't said a single word; it's really strange.）
3. 这种苦活累活，他总是抢着干，而且一声不吭。
   （He always takes the lead in doing this kind of hard work without a word of complaint.）
4. 你怎么一声不吭就走了？大家都急坏了。
   （Why did you leave without saying anything? Everyone was worried sick.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Colloquial Usage: 一声不吭 (yī shēng bù kēng) is a highly informal expression. In written or formal contexts, 一言不发 (yī yán bù fā) is more common.
• The meaning of 吭 (kēng): While 吭 (kēng) can mean "throat," in this idiom it functions as a verb meaning "to utter." It is similar to 一声不响 (yī shēng bù xiǎng), but 吭 (kēng) implies a more human, intentional silence.
• Everyday Scenarios: You will often hear this when describing a child who is sulking or someone who leaves a gathering without notifying anyone.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 一言不发 (yī yán bù fā): To not say a single word; often used in objective descriptions.link
  • 沉默寡言 (chén mò guǎ yán): To be a person of few words; describes a personality trait.
  • 无声无息 (wú shēng wú xī): Without a sound or a trace.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 喋喋不休 (dié dié bù xiū): To chatter on and on without stopping.
  • 滔滔不绝 (tāo tāo bù jué): To talk in a constant, flowing stream.link
  • 七嘴八舌 (qī zuǐ bā shé): Many people talking at once, creating a noisy and confusing situation.link

6. Summary

一声不吭 (yī shēng bù kēng) is a common colloquial expression used to describe someone who remains completely silent. Unlike a neutral silence, it often implies an underlying emotion or intention, such as sulking, enduring pain without complaint, or keeping a secret. It is frequently used as an adverbial phrase: "doing something without saying a word" (一声不吭地...).