一声不吭 yìshēng-bùkēng to not say a word
怎么记住“一声不吭”: 一 one + 声 voice + 不 not + 吭 throat = to not say a word.
汉字
用法
- 'Without a peep' - to stay completely silent, say nothing - 他一声不吭地走了 (tā yìshēng-bùkēng de zǒu le) he left without a word.
- Emphasizes withholding speech in a situation where one might speak up (enduring, sulking, refusing to explain). 吭 (kēng) = to utter a sound.
- Near 一言不发 (yìyán-bùfā); 一声不吭 is more colloquial and stresses not making even a sound.