keep quiet
keep quiet — 慣用語
1. to not say anything or produce any sound; to stay completely silent instead of s
保持安靜
不說話或不出聲
to not say anything or produce any sound; to stay completely silent instead of speaking or making noise.
The librarian asked everyone to keep quiet during the exam.
圖書館員請大家在考試期間保持安靜。
used as an instruction to stop noise
Rafael kept quiet while his parents discussed the family budget.
Rafael 在父母討論家庭預算時保持安靜。
The baby finally fell asleep, so the whole house kept quiet for an hour.
嬰兒終於睡著了，所以全家安靜了一個小時。
The audience kept quiet during the final scene of the play.
觀眾在話劇的最後一幕期間保持安靜。
- stay silent
more formal, often used in writing
- shush
informal, used as a quick command to stop noise
- make noise
the opposite action
- speak up
to start talking or voice an opinion
文法句型
keep + quiet
用法筆記
This is the most literal sense, referring to the physical act of not speaking or making noise. Frequently used as a polite command.
常見錯誤
2. to not tell anyone about something you know or have seen, so that the informatio
保密；不說
不把所知的事告訴別人
to not tell anyone about something you know or have seen, so that the information remains private.
Niran kept quiet about the surprise party so his sister would not find out.
Niran 對驚喜派對保密，以免他妹妹發現。
keep quiet about + secret plan
Maeve promised to keep quiet after hearing her friend's personal story.
Maeve 承諾聽完朋友的私事後會保密。
The children kept quiet about the broken window because they were afraid of punishment.
孩子們對打破窗戶的事守口如瓶，因為怕被處罰。
Zayd kept quiet about his brother's plan to skip class, even when the teacher asked.
Zayd 對哥哥翹課的計畫保密，即使老師問起也沒說。
- not breathe a word
idiomatic, more emphatic
- keep mum
informal British English, slightly old-fashioned
- blab
informal, to reveal a secret carelessly
- spill the beans
idiomatic, to accidentally or deliberately reveal information
文法句型
keep + quiet + about + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often followed by 'about' to specify what is being kept secret. The subject chooses not to speak — no external force is involved.
常見錯誤
3. to deliberately take measures so that other people do not learn about a fact, es
隱瞞；掩蓋
刻意不讓他人知道某個事實
to deliberately take measures so that other people do not learn about a fact, especially one that is embarrassing, illegal, or could cause trouble.
The company kept quiet about the safety problem until a worker spoke to the press.
公司對安全問題守口如瓶，直到一名員工向媒體揭露。
active concealment by an organisation
Zola insisted that everyone keep quiet about the accident to avoid attracting police attention.
Zola 堅持大家要對那場意外保密，以免引來警方注意。
Local officials kept quiet about the pollution levels for months before the report came out.
地方官員數月來一直隱瞞污染程度，直到報告公布為止。
Mateo kept quiet about his role in the prank so that no one would get blamed.
Mateo 對自己在惡作劇中的角色絕口不提，以免有人被責怪。
文法句型
keep + quiet + about + noun phrase / that-clause
用法筆記
This sense implies deliberate manipulation or cover-up, not just personal privacy. The subject actively tries to prevent discovery, often in a professional or institutional context. Distinguished from sense 2, which is simply not talking.
4. to deliberately avoid saying anything on a particular topic or about a specific
避談
刻意不提某個話題
to deliberately avoid saying anything on a particular topic or about a specific piece of information.
Yael kept quiet about her past job because she did not want to discuss it.
Yael 對過去的工作避而不談，因為她不想討論這件事。
When the argument turned to money, everyone at the table kept quiet.
爭論轉到錢的話題時，桌上每個人都閉口不談。
topic-based silence in a group setting
Shirin kept quiet about her travel plans until everything was confirmed.
Shirin 在一切確認之前，對自己的旅行計畫絕口不提。
The doctor kept quiet about the test results until the patient's family arrived.
醫生對檢驗結果隻字不提，直到病患的家屬抵達為止。
- stay silent on
slightly more formal, often used in writing or speeches
- avoid the subject
emphasises the active avoidance of a topic
文法句型
keep + quiet + about + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense focuses on intentionally not bringing up a topic, but without the connotations of a cover-up (sense 3) or of protecting someone's secret (sense 2). The choice may be for personal, strategic, or social reasons.
5. to make a person, animal, or thing stop making noise or stop speaking.
讓…安靜
使人或動物停止發出聲音
to make a person, animal, or thing stop making noise or stop speaking.
Emily kept the dog quiet during the video call by giving it a chew toy.
Emily 給狗一個咀嚼玩具，讓牠在視訊通話時保持安靜。
keep + animal + quiet
The teacher could not keep the kindergarten class quiet after the fire drill.
消防演習結束後，老師沒辦法讓幼稚園班級安靜下來。
Théo kept the children quiet by telling them a story before bedtime.
Théo 在孩子們睡前講故事，讓他們安靜下來。
Yumi gave her little brother some crayons to keep him quiet during the meeting.
Yumi 給弟弟幾支蠟筆，讓他在開會時保持安靜。
- let make noise
to allow noise to continue
文法句型
keep + noun phrase + quiet
用法筆記
Transitive sense — requires an object (the person, animal, or source of noise you are quieting). The method used can be any effective means: distracting, soothing, or commanding.
常見錯誤
6. to stop someone from speaking about secret or sensitive information, especially
封口；壓制
阻止某人洩漏秘密資訊
to stop someone from speaking about secret or sensitive information, especially by applying pressure, persuasion, or threats.
The managers tried to keep the whistleblower quiet by offering a large payment.
管理階層試圖用一大筆錢讓吹哨者封口。
preventing someone from revealing information
Vivek signed an agreement to keep him quiet about the project for three years.
Vivek 簽了一份協議，要他在三年內對該計畫閉口不談。
The government could not keep the journalists quiet after the evidence was published.
證據公布之後，政府無法再壓制記者。
The lawyer tried to keep the witness quiet by questioning his story in court.
律師試圖在法庭上質疑證人的說詞，讓他閉口不談。
- encourage to speak
to support someone in sharing information
文法句型
keep + noun phrase + quiet
用法筆記
This sense implies an external agent actively preventing another person from speaking out. Distinguished from sense 3, where the subject themself is concealing information — here the subject silences someone else.