Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
沉默 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
沉默
chénmò
taciturn
HSK 5, a, 23 strokes, rank #3086, Hard
沉默
chénmò
uncommunicative
HSK 5, a, 23 strokes, rank #3086, Hard
沉默
chénmò
silent
HSK 5, a, 23 strokes, rank #3086, Hard
chénmò(chen2mo4)chen mo T2
1taciturn
2uncommunicative
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
沉默chénmò(chen2mo4)
沉默 (chén mò) means to be silent or uncommunicative, often implying a reluctance to speak or express thoughts. It is commonly used in contexts where someone chooses not to engage in conversation, either due to shyness, contemplation, or discomfort. This word conveys a deeper sense of stillness than just not talking, suggesting an emotional or mental state.
Strokes23Frequency#3086DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, being 沉默 can be seen as a sign of respect or contemplation, especially in serious discussions or when listening to elders. It contrasts with the more expressive communication styles often valued in Western cultures.
Memory tip
Imagine a deep, still lake (沉) that is completely silent (默). The lake's surface reflects the sky but doesn't reveal what lies beneath, just as a taciturn person keeps their thoughts hidden. The sound 'chen' can remind you of 'chenille,' a soft, quiet fabric, while 'mo' resembles the sound of silence.
Meanings of 沉默
chénmò(chen2mo4)
1taciturn
2uncommunicative
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 沉默 means.
About 沉默
沉默Simplified
23Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3086Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 沉默
Podcast: 沉默
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 沉默
Quick Contrast
沉静 (chénjìng) vs 沉默 (chénmò): choose 沉静 when emphasizing a calm and peaceful silence, whereas 沉默 implies a reluctance or unwillingness to speak.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 沉默 with other similar terms like 安静 (ān jìng), which means quiet but does not imply a lack of communication. This word is more formal and often used in literary contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '沉默寡言' (chén mò guǎ yán), meaning 'taciturn.'
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 5, students should focus on the nuance between 沉默 and other synonyms. Understanding the emotional context behind being silent can enhance your conversational skills. Practice using it in sentences that reflect both personal feelings and observations in social situations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 沉默 to describe a peaceful quiet environment, which is better expressed with 安静 (ān jìng). For example, saying '这个地方很沉默' (This place is very silent) should be corrected to '这个地方很安静.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 沉默
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 沉默, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 沉默 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 沉默?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 沉默 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
沉默 (chén mò) means to be silent or uncommunicative, often implying a reluctance to speak or express thoughts. It is commonly used in contexts where someone chooses not to engage in conversation, either due to shyness, contemplation, or discomfort. This word conveys a deeper sense of stillness than just not talking, suggesting an emotional or mental state.
When to use 沉默
Be cautious not to confuse 沉默 with other similar terms like 安静 (ān jìng), which means quiet but does not imply a lack of communication. This word is more formal and often used in literary contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Common collocations include '沉默寡言' (chén mò guǎ yán), meaning 'taciturn.'
沉默 or something close to it
沉静 (chénjìng) vs 沉默 (chénmò): choose 沉静 when emphasizing a calm and peaceful silence, whereas 沉默 implies a reluctance or unwillingness to speak.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 沉默 to describe a peaceful quiet environment, which is better expressed with 安静 (ān jìng). For example, saying '这个地方很沉默' (This place is very silent) should be corrected to '这个地方很安静.'
Write 沉默
沉
默
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 沉默 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 沉默
沉默 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
女孩尴尬地说了句“这是马尔科姆”，打破了____。
"This is Malcolm," the girl said awkwardly, to fill the silence.
Example sentences for 沉默 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
女孩尴尬地说了句“这是马尔科姆”，打破了沉默。
nǚ hái gāngà dì shuō le jù“ zhè shì mǎ ěr kē mǔ”， dǎpò le chénmò。
"This is Malcolm," the girl said awkwardly, to fill the silence.
2
珀尔并不介意他沉默寡言；事实上，她喜欢这一点。
pò ěr bìng bù jièyì tā chénmò guǎ yán； shìshíshàng， tā xǐhuan zhè yīdiǎn。
Pearl didn't mind his reticence; in fact she liked it.
3
他沉默了好一阵子。
tā chénmò le hǎo yízhèn zi。
He remained silent for some time.
4
沉默背后的骇人真相慢慢显露出来。
chénmò bèihòu de hài rén zhēnxiàng mànmàn xiǎnlù chūlái。
The chilling facts behind this veil of silence were slow to emerge.
5
他们讥讽着，喊叫着，打破了惯常的那一分钟沉默。
tāmen jī fěng zhe， hǎn jiào zhe， dǎpò le guàn cháng de nà yī fēnzhōng chénmò。
They interrupted the customary one minute's silence with jeers and shouts.
6
表面看上去沉默不语，其实内心非常烦躁不安，他的情况糟透了。
biǎomiàn kànshangqu chénmò bù yǔ， qíshí nèixīn fēicháng fánzào bù’ān， tā de qíngkuàng zāo tòu le。
Behind that quietness his nerves are jangling, he's in a terrible state.
7
盖尔镇定地注视着哈里，沉默了片刻。
gài ěr zhèndìng dì zhùshì zhe Hā lǐ， chénmò le piànkè。
Gail was silent for a moment, regarding Harry with his steady gaze.
8
索恩整理着一些本无须整理的文件，沉默还在延续。
Suǒ ēn zhěnglǐ zhe yìxiē běn wúxū zhěnglǐ de wénjiàn， chénmò hái zài yánxù。
The silence lengthened as Thorne unnecessarily shuffled some papers.
9
当我们向大家寻求建议时，得到的只是一片死寂的沉默。
dāng wǒmen xiàng dàjiā xúnqiú jiànyì shí， dédào de zhǐshì yī piàn sǐ jì de chénmò。
When we ask people for suggestions we get a deafening silence.
10
她沉默了很久之后, 忽然笑了起来.
tā chénmò le hěn jiǔ zhīhòu, hūrán xiào le qǐlái.
After a long silence, she broke into a laugh.
Ask Jason
Have a question about 沉默?
Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
Frequently asked questions about 沉默
You could say, '在会议上，他一直沉默不语,' meaning 'He remained silent during the meeting.'
Not necessarily; it can convey a thoughtful silence or respect, but it can also imply discomfort or a lack of willingness to engage.
沉默 refers specifically to silence in communication, while 静止 means stillness or immobility, often related to objects or people not moving.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 沉默?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
