闭嘴
bì zuǐ
Shut up · trad. 閉嘴
闭嘴 (bì zuǐ) is a very direct and often rude way to say "shut up" or "be quiet" in Mandarin Chinese. It's typically used when someone is annoyed or angry and wants another person to stop talking immediately.
When to use it
Very informal and impolite. Using 闭嘴 can be offensive and is generally considered rude. For a less harsh but still direct command to stop talking, you could say 别说了 (bié shuō le, "stop talking"). If you want to politely ask for quiet, use 请安静 (qǐng ānjìng, "please be quiet").
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "bee-ZWAY." 闭 (bì) is a falling tone, and 嘴 (zuǐ) is a third tone.
Other ways to say it
- 别说了bié shuō lestop talking (less harsh)
- 请安静qǐng ān jìngplease be quiet (polite)
- 给我闭嘴gěi wǒ bì zuǐshut up! (more aggressive)
Examples
闭嘴！我不想听你说话。
bì zuǐ ！ wǒ bù xiǎng tīng nǐ shuō huà 。
Shut up! I don't want to hear you talk.
你能闭嘴吗？我正在看书。
nǐ néng bì zuǐ ma ？ wǒ zhèng zài kàn shū 。
Can you shut up? I'm reading.
够了，闭嘴！
gòu le ， bì zuǐ ！
Enough, shut up!
Pro tip: 闭嘴 is a strong command and can easily escalate a situation. Use it with caution, as it's often perceived as disrespectful and aggressive, especially in formal settings or with strangers.
Related phrases
和平 · Peace钱 · Money北京菜 · Beijing food
Want to speak Chinese for real?
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →