Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To remain silent / to say nothing: To deliberately choose not to speak or respond, often as a reaction to a situation, question, or accusation. It implies a conscious decision to withhold speech.
   • To pretend not to hear/notice: To act as if one did not hear or is unaware of something, typically to avoid a responsibility, confrontation, or engagement.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Khi bị hỏi, anh ấy chỉ làm thinh. (When asked, he just remained silent.)
  • Tôi gọi nhiều lần nhưng nó cứ làm thinh. (I called many times, but he kept pretending not to hear.)
  • Trước lời buộc tội, cô ấy đã làm thinh. (Faced with the accusation, she said nothing.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a nuance of passive resistance, indifference, or intentional avoidance. It is not merely the absence of speech but a strategic or emotional choice not to communicate.

Variants and Related Words

• Im lặng (v): to be silent, to be quiet. (This is more neutral, while often implies a deliberate act in a specific context.)
• Câm như hến (idiom): to be as silent as a clam; to refuse to say a word.

Synonyms

• To keep quiet: To refrain from speaking.
• To stay silent: To not utter any words.
• To give the silent treatment: To deliberately ignore someone by not speaking to them.

Related Idioms

• Làm thinh hưởng lợi: To remain silent to reap benefits; to stay quiet for personal gain.
  • Anh ta biết sự thật nhưng làm thinh hưởng lợi. (He knew the truth but remained silent to benefit from it.)