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声を潜める (こえをひそめる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

声こえを潜ひそめる

こ

え

を

ひ

そ

め

る

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

lower one's voice; speak in a hushed voice

Used when someone deliberately speaks more quietly, often to avoid being overheard or to show discretion.

彼かれは声こえを潜ひそめて秘ひ密みつを教おしえてくれた。
He lowered his voice and told me the secret.
図と書しょ館かんでは声こえを潜ひそめて話はなし

て

ください

。

Please speak in a hushed voice in the library.

Written forms

声こえを潜ひそめる
Standard kanji spelling.
声こえをひそめる
Kana spelling of the verb part; common when the kanji 潜 is avoided.

Kanji

声voice
潜submerge, conceal, hide

Similar words

小こ声ごえで話はなす
小声で話す simply means 'to speak in a small voice,' while 声を潜める emphasizes the deliberate act of lowering one's voice from a normal volume.

Etymology

The expression combines 声 (voice) with 潜める (to hide, to lower). 潜める is related to 潜む (to lurk, to hide), suggesting the idea of making one's voice less noticeable.