Definition
沉默 (chén mò) describes the state of being silent or not speaking — it can be a verb ('to remain silent') or an adjective ('taciturn'). Unlike 寂寞 (jì mò), which is an adjective for feeling lonely, 沉默 is about the absence of speech, not emotion. 沉思 (chén sī) is a verb meaning 'to contemplate deeply', which often involves silence but emphasizes active thinking.
verb
to be silenttaciturn
Examples
- 沉默。Tā zài huì shàng yì zhí chén mò.She was silent throughout the meeting.
- 沉默,。Tā chén mò de zuò zhe, yí jù huà yě méi shuō.He sat silently, not saying a single word.
- 沉默,。Tā xìnggé chén mò, bú ài shuōhuà.He is taciturn by nature and doesn't like to talk.
Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.