Hello, and thank you.

I asked this on another translation forum but have not gotten my three to agree, so I figured I would ask here as well.

I am looking for a translation of the phrase "Be silent" but not in the "shut up" or "shut your mouth" kind of way.
Rather, this is the more zen-like, maintenance-of-dignity way of being silent or calm.

I have gotten the following in the other forum:

Téigh chun ciúnais

I am making a framed piece to hang over the door in my office to remind me of this approach as I go to meetings and the like!

Thanks again, I appreciate your time and expertise.

What other forum? I'm curious.

What you have there doesn't work, in any case. It means "Go to silent," and "ciúnas" is misspelled.

I would simply say "Bí ciúin"...or perhaps, in the more Zen-like way, "Bí suaimhneach." Either can mean "Be silent" as in "Be tranquil."

Redwolf

If you want to avoid the implication of an abrupt command, you could choose something more philosophical. For example, there's an Irish proverb that might work. It's more or less the Irish equivalent of "Silence is golden", but since music is an important theme in Irish language and culture, it takes a different slant on the issue:

Is binn béal ina thost
There is sweet music in silence [a slightly rough translation]

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Thank you. And thank you as well, CaoimhínSF.
I had seen the proverb before, and while I do like that, I am not sure it fits my meaning. I will have to think on this.

Redwolf, I was under the impression that Bí ciúin could be a directive closer to the "be silent!" and less of the more contemplative version I am looking for. I stand aside for your expertise, however.

It might seem that Bí suaimhneach might be best?

Just imagine you are about to go to a really stressful conference wherein you know if you say the wrong thing you could be feeling the repercussions in your work-life for an extended time... your secret reminder to yourself is Bí suaimhneach?

/the other forum is Irish Gaelic Translator dot com

Irishgaelictranslator.com is, sadly, moribund, and has been for several years. Anything you might get from there would have to be suspect at this point.

"Bí ciúin" or "Bí suaimhneach" may be directives, but they're not at all harsh...no more so than "Be silent" is in English. They're certainly not the equivalent of "shut up."

Redwolf

Bí suaimhneach - seems soft enough.
or perhaps
Bí ar do shuaimhneas!

Shut Up would be more of a:
Éist do bhéal
or
Dún do chlab
job...

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Bí cinnte de go nglacfaidh triúr le gach aistriúchán a thabharfar.
Be sure to get three in agreement with a translation given.

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

Thank you, everyone.

So noted on the other forum.

So it looks like Bí suaimhneach has the most consensus, but I appreciate everyone's knowledge!

If you literally want silence, so that you can contemplate/meditate, I would say "Bí ciúin".
Like Braoin said, in Irish, if somebody wants you to shut-up they'll probably say something else

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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The sentence I gave really means "be silent", so it corresponds more to what you wanted
Suaimhneach and ciúin mean "quiet" but you can be quiet and talk anyway.

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne