silent

Compared meaning: not speaking or unable to speak (adjective).

比较义项：沉默的、不说话的、哑的、不能说话的（形容词）。

• silent 本词

  Describes someone not speaking at a given moment, usually by choice or because the situation calls for quiet; it says nothing about whether the person is able to speak.

  描述某人在某一时刻不说话，通常是自己选择保持安静，或者场合要求安静，并不涉及这个人是否有能力说话。

  She remained silent during the argument, refusing to say a word out of stubbornness.

  争吵中她一直保持沉默，固执地一个字也不肯说。

• dumb

  An older word for being physically unable to speak; today it mainly survives in the set phrase 'struck dumb' meaning speechless with shock, and using it directly for a disability is now considered outdated or offensive.

  一个较旧的词，指因生理原因不能说话，如今主要保留在固定搭配“struck dumb”（因震惊而说不出话）中，直接用它来形容残疾已被认为是过时甚至带有冒犯意味的说法。

  The shocking news left him struck dumb, unable to say a single word.

  那个震惊的消息让他哑口无言，一个字也说不出来。

• mute

  The neutral, modern word for losing the ability to speak, whether from illness, injury or shock; it can also mean deliberately staying silent, so it overlaps with both of the other words.

  更中性、更现代的说法，指因疾病、受伤或震惊而丧失说话能力，也可以表示故意保持沉默，因此在意思上与另外两个词都有重叠。

  The illness left her mute for several days, though she could still hear everything around her.

  这场病让她好几天都说不出话来，不过她仍然能听到周围的一切。

Silent, dumb, and mute all mean not speaking. Silent is about choice, not ability. Dumb is old-fashioned, surviving mainly in struck dumb, and using it directly is offensive. Mute is modern and neutral for lost or chosen silence. Not compared: dumb (stupid), mute (muting).

这三个词在“不说话”这层意思上很接近，但语气和使用场合不同：silent强调此刻选择不说话或环境安静，不涉及说话能力；dumb传统上指因生理原因不能说话，如今多用于“struck dumb”（因震惊而说不出话）这类固定搭配，直接用来形容残疾已被视为过时甚至带有冒犯意味；mute是更中性、更现代的说法，既可指因疾病或意外而丧失说话能力，也可指主动保持沉默。这里不比较dumb表示“愚蠢的”这一常见口语义项，也不比较mute作动词“调成静音”或名词“静音键”的用法。

Compared meaning: making little or no sound (adjective).

比较义项：不发出声音或声音很小（形容词）。

• silent 本词

  Silent means totally without sound, often absolute and sudden, used for dramatic or complete stillness (a room can 'fall silent'); stronger and more formal than quiet.

  silent表示完全没有声音，通常是绝对的、突然的，常用于描写戏剧性的、彻底的寂静（比如全场瞬间安静下来）；语气比quiet更强，也更正式。

  The whole audience stayed silent for a full minute after the shocking announcement.

  那个震惊的消息传来后，全场观众沉默了整整一分钟。

• quiet

  Quiet means low in noise, often relative and gradual, describing a background noise level rather than total absence of sound; common in everyday, casual descriptions of places or people.

  quiet表示噪音很小，通常是相对的、渐进的，描述背景声音的程度而非完全无声；在日常、随意地描述地方或人时更常用。

  The office is fairly quiet in the early morning, with just a few people typing.

  清晨的办公室相当安静，只有几个人在打字。

Silent and quiet both mean making little or no sound. Silent is stronger, often describing sudden, total stillness. Quiet is more everyday, describing a low noise level rather than complete silence. Not compared: silent meaning not speaking, quiet meaning a calm personality.

这两个词都表示声音小或没有声音，但silent语气更强、更绝对，常指突然的、彻底的寂静，而quiet更日常，指声音很小但未必完全消失。此处不比较silent表示“沉默不语”或quiet表示“性格文静”等引申义。