Translation guide
The English word 'quiet' covers a range of meanings from low volume to calmness, stillness, and even personality traits. Japanese uses different words and phrases depending on what kind of quiet you mean.
Describing a lack of sound or noise, such as a quiet room, a quiet voice, or asking someone to be quiet.
The most common and general word for 'quiet' meaning low noise or silence. Can describe places, sounds, voices, or situations.
この部屋は静かですね。
This room is quiet, isn't it?
もっと静かに話してください。
Please speak more quietly.
Noun meaning 'quietness' or 'silence', often used for a peaceful, profound quiet.
Describes a quiet and peaceful environment, often used for residential areas. Somewhat formal or written.
Describing a state of tranquility, lack of disturbance, or peacefulness, such as a quiet life, a quiet sea, or a quiet mind.
Describing a person who doesn't speak much, is shy, or keeps to themselves.
Describing doing something in a quiet manner, without sound.
Adverbial form of 静か. Used for actions done quietly.
静かにドアを閉めてください。
Please close the door quietly.
Telling someone not to reveal information, or describing the act of staying silent about something.
Verb meaning to keep silent, say nothing. Often used in the imperative '黙って' (keep quiet about it).
このことは黙っていてください。
Please keep quiet about this.
Describing the action of noise or activity subsiding.
静か (shizuka) is about low volume or silence in the environment or a person's voice. おとなしい (otonashii) describes a person's gentle, reserved nature. A person can be おとなしい but not necessarily 静か if they are making noise in other ways, though they often overlap.
彼は静かな人だ。
He is a quiet person (speaks softly, doesn't make noise).
彼はおとなしい人だ。
He is a quiet person (gentle, reserved, not assertive).
If you mean a shop or street is quiet because there are few customers or little activity, use 暇 (ひま, free/not busy) or 人通りが少ない (ひとどおりがすくない, few passersby), not 静か. 静か only refers to sound level.
夜の静けさが好きです。
I like the quiet of the night.
閑静な住宅街
a quiet residential area
Means calm, gentle, peaceful. Used for weather, sea, personality, or atmosphere. Not about volume.
今日は海が穏やかです。
The sea is calm today.
穏やかな生活を送りたい。
I want to lead a quiet (peaceful) life.
Can also mean peaceful or still when referring to atmosphere, but primarily about sound.
静かな夜だった。
It was a quiet (peaceful) night.
Means tranquil, peaceful, often used in formal contexts or set phrases like '平穏無事' (peace and quiet).
平穏な日々が続いている。
Quiet (peaceful) days continue.
Describes a person who is quiet, gentle, and well-behaved. Often used for children or pets. Can imply shyness or lack of assertiveness.
彼女はおとなしい人です。
She is a quiet person.
この犬はおとなしいですね。
This dog is quiet (gentle), isn't it?
Literally 'mouthless', meaning taciturn or not talkative. Focuses on lack of speech, not necessarily shyness.
彼は無口な男だ。
He is a quiet (taciturn) man.
Formal/literary term for being quiet and speaking little. Often used to describe a stoic or strong silent type.
寡黙な職人
a quiet craftsman
Means softly, gently, or stealthily. Emphasizes careful, quiet movement.
彼はそっと部屋を出た。
He quietly left the room.
Means secretly, stealthily, on the sly. Implies doing something quietly to avoid being noticed.
こっそり抜け出した。
I quietly slipped away.
He kept quiet even though he didn't know anything.
Literally 'to close one's mouth', meaning to refuse to speak or keep silent, often about a specific topic.
彼はその件については口を閉ざした。
He kept quiet about that matter.
To keep something a secret. More direct than 'quiet' but conveys the same intent.
この計画は秘密にしておこう。
Let's keep this plan quiet.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to become quiet'. Used for noise, wind, or commotion dying down.
嵐が静まった。
The storm quieted down.
騒ぎが静まるのを待った。
I waited for the commotion to quiet down.
Transitive verb meaning 'to quiet something down', e.g., to calm a baby or suppress noise.
赤ちゃんを静めるのに苦労した。
I had trouble quieting the baby.
今日は店が暇だ。
The shop is quiet today (few customers).
Keep quiet about the surprise party.
今日は店が暇だ。
The shop is quiet today (few customers).