Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To shut one's mouth, to close one's mouth: The literal action of closing the lips together.
   • To keep silent, to hold one's tongue: A figurative meaning, instructing someone to stop talking or to remain quiet, often used as a command.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning (to close one's mouth):

  • Đứa bé ngậm miệng lại khi ngủ. (The baby shuts its mouth while sleeping.)
  • Anh ấy ngậm miệng và lắc đầu. (He closed his mouth and shook his head.)

• Figurative meaning (to keep quiet):

  • Cô ấy bảo tôi ngậm miệng lại. (She told me to shut my mouth.)
  • Trong cuộc họp, tốt nhất là anh nên ngậm miệng. (During the meeting, you'd better keep silent.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ngậm miệng ăn tiền": An idiom meaning to accept a bribe and stay silent about it.

  • Hắn ta đã ngậm miệng ăn tiền nên không dám tố cáo. (He took the bribe and kept his mouth shut, so he didn't dare to report it.)

• Used as a strong, direct command: Often implies irritation or anger.

  • Ngậm miệng! Tôi không muốn nghe nữa. (Shut up! I don't want to hear any more.)

Variants and Related Words

• Im lặng (verb): To be silent, to keep quiet (a more neutral term).
• Câm miệng (verb phrase): To shut up (a ruder, more offensive synonym).
• Ngậm họng (verb phrase): To be forced to keep quiet, often due to being proven wrong or having no rebuttal.

Synonyms

• Nín thinh: To keep quiet, to say nothing.
• Giữ im lặng: To maintain silence.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Bảo/ra lệnh ngậm miệng: To tell/order someone to shut up.
  • Sếp ra lệnh cho nhân viên ngậm miệng. (The boss ordered the employee to shut up.)

Related Idioms

• Biết thì thưa thốt, không biết thì dựa cột mà nghe: A proverb meaning "If you know, speak up; if you don't, lean against the pillar and listen," advising silence when one lacks knowledge. This relates to the concept of knowing when to "ngậm miệng."
• Ngậm bồ hòn làm ngọt: To endure bitterness and pretend it's sweet; to suffer in silence. This shares the concept of forced silence or endurance.

1. Shut (close) one's mouth
2. Keep silent, hold one's tongue