静か

Compound of 静 (shizu, bound morpheme indicating “quietness” or “calmness”) +‎ か (-ka, suffixing element used to form na adjectives). The shizu portion is cognate with the shizu in 静まる (shizumaru, “to become quiet”) and 沈む (shizumu, “to sink; to set (such as the sun or moon); to become depressed”).^[1][2] This shizu might also be related to 下 (shita, “down; below”).

First attested in the Nihon Shoki of 720 CE.

• (Tokyo) しずか (Atamadaka – )^[2]
• IPA^(key):

静(しず)か • (shizuka) ^{←しづか (siduka)?}-na (adnominal 静(しず)かな (shizuka na), adverbial 静(しず)かに (shizuka ni))

1. inaudible, quiet, silent

   静(しず)かな近所(きんじょ)が好(この)ましいです。

   Shizuka na kinjo ga konomashī desu.

   I prefer quiet neighbourhoods.

   静(しず)かです。

   Shizuka desu.

   It's quiet.

   ここでは静(しず)かな歩行(ほこう)を望(のぞ)みます。

   Koko de wa shizuka na hokō o nozomimasu.

   We prefer an inaudible walk here.

2. calm, tranquil
3. still, stopped and not moving
4. not busy

For degree, corresponding to the English quietness, both 静かさ (shizukasa) and 静けさ (shizukesa) can be used, but 静けさ (shizukesa) may be more common. Note that shizukesa derives from the related archaic adjective 靜けし (shizukeshi, “quiet, calm”).

• (calm): 穏(おだ)やか (odayaka)
• (quiet, to a person): 大人(おとな)しい (otonashī)

• (antonym(s) of “quiet, calm”): 騒(さわ)がしい (sawagashii), 喧(やかま)しい (yakamashii)

• 静心(しずごころ) (shizugokoro): a calm and quiet mind
• 静静(しずしず) (shizushizu): quietly, softly, calmly
• 沈(しず)む (shizumu): to sink; to set (such as the sun or moon); to become depressed
• 静(しず)まる (shizumaru): to become still or quiet
• 静(しず)める (shizumeru): to make still or quiet; to appease; to soothe, to relieve; to quell, to put down
• 鎮宮(しずみや) (shizumiya): a shrine where a 神 (kami) is honored and offerings are made