mum

Compared meaning: not speaking, or not telling something (adjective).

比较义项：沉默的，不说话/不透露的（形容词）。

• silent

  Neutral, general word meaning not speaking at all, in any situation; can describe total silence or a deliberate refusal to talk, in formal or everyday contexts.

  中性、通用词，指完全不说话，可用于任何情境；既可形容彻底的寂静，也可指故意拒绝开口，正式和日常场合都适用。

  He remained silent during the entire meeting and never answered a single question.

  他在整场会议中始终沉默，一个问题都没有回答。

• mum 本词

  Informal word almost always paired with 'about/on' a topic, especially for keeping a secret; common in the fixed phrase 'keep mum', rarely used outside that pattern.

  非正式用词，几乎总是与“about/on”某个话题连用，尤指对秘密守口如瓶；常见于固定说法“keep mum”，很少用在这个搭配之外。

  She stayed mum about the surprise party all week.

  她整整一周对惊喜派对的事只字不提。

Both words mean not speaking. Silent is neutral and general, used for staying quiet in any situation. Mum is informal, almost always used with 'about' or 'on' a topic, especially for keeping a secret, common in the fixed phrase 'keep mum'.

两词都表示“不说话”，但 silent 是中性、通用词，可指完全不出声的任何情境；mum 是非正式说法，几乎总是搭配“about/on”某个话题，尤指刻意不泄露秘密，常见于习语“keep mum”。

Compared meaning: mother, in informal speech (noun).

比较义项：妈妈（口语说法，n.）。

• mom

  The standard, neutral American English word for mother, used naturally by people of all ages; unlike mama or mummy, it does not sound childish.

  美式英语中中性、标准的妈妈说法，各年龄段的人都会自然使用；与mama、mummy不同，这个词听起来不显得孩子气。

  Mom, can you pick me up from school today?

  妈妈，你今天能来接我放学吗？

• mama

  Used especially by young children, or by adults speaking affectionately or playfully; in American English it sounds more childish and intimate than the neutral mom.

  尤其是幼儿常用的说法，成年人使用则带有亲昵或撒娇的语气；在美式英语中，这个词听起来比中性的mom更孩子气、更亲密。

  The toddler cried out for her mama when she fell down.

  那个蹒跚学步的孩子摔倒时哭着喊妈妈。

• mum 本词

  The standard, neutral British English word for mother, equivalent to American mom; used by people of all ages without sounding childish.

  英式英语中中性、标准的妈妈说法，相当于美式的mom；各年龄段的人使用都不会显得孩子气。

  My mum always waits for me at the school gate.

  我妈妈总是在校门口等我。

• mummy

  The British equivalent of mama, used especially by young children or in an affectionate, childish tone; sounds too babyish for most adult speech.

  英式英语中相当于mama的说法，尤其是幼儿常用，或带有亲昵、撒娇的语气；大多数成年人使用会显得过于幼稚。

  The little boy kept asking where his mummy had gone in the shop.

  那个小男孩在商店里一直问他妈咪去哪儿了。

Mom, mama, mum, and mummy all mean mother informally, but region and tone differ. Mom and mum are the standard, neutral words in American and British English, used by all ages. Mama and mummy are more childish, used mainly by young children or affectionately.

这四个词在这个意义上都表示妈妈，但地域和使用者年龄不同：mom和mama用于美式英语，mum和mummy用于英式英语；mama和mummy更偏向幼儿或带撒娇语气的说法，成年人使用会显得孩子气。这里不比较mum的其他义项（菊花、沉默）和mummy的木乃伊义项。