Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To remain completely silent: To stop making any sound or noise, often by holding one's breath or being extremely quiet, typically due to fear, surprise, or the need to hide.
   • To be deathly quiet: To be in a state of absolute silence, as if not breathing, often while waiting or listening intently.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Khi nghe tiếng động lạ, bọn trẻ nín thít trong tủ quần áo. (When they heard a strange noise, the children remained completely silent in the closet.)
  • Cô ấy nín thít chờ đợi kết quả. (She waited in deathly quiet for the result.)
  • Cả khán phòng nín thít theo dõi màn trình diễn. (The entire auditorium fell completely silent watching the performance.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe a tense, anticipatory silence where even minor sounds are suppressed. It implies a voluntary and controlled act of silence, often under pressure.

Variants and Related Words

• Nín thinh (verb phrase): to keep quiet, to say nothing (often about refusing to speak or give information).

  • Anh ta chỉ nín thinh trước mọi câu hỏi. (He just kept quiet in response to all questions.)

• Nín lặng (verb phrase): to fall silent, to become quiet.

  • Mọi người đột nhiên nín lặng. (Everyone suddenly fell silent.)

Synonyms

• To hold one's breath: To stop breathing temporarily.
• To be hushed: To be made quiet.
• To keep dead quiet: To maintain absolute silence.

Related Idioms

• Nín thở chờ đợi: To wait with bated breath.

  • Người hâm mộ nín thở chờ đợi bàn thắng. (The fans waited with bated breath for the goal.)

• Im như thóc: To be as silent as a mouse (literally: as silent as unhusked rice).

  • Nghe lời mẹ, lũ trẻ im như thóc. (Listening to their mother, the children were as silent as mice.)

1. To remain in patient silence