埋 (mái) — to bury
Definition
A general verb for 'to bury' or 'to hide by burying' — covers both physical objects (treasure, bodies) and figurative hiding (a secret, yourself in work). More literal and everyday than the formal 埋葬, and less about the dead than 葬.
verb
to bury
Easily confused
Examples
- 埋。Tā bǎ bǎo zàng mái zài dì xià.He buried the treasure underground.
- 埋。Tā mái zài xīn dǐ de mì mì zhōng yú bèi fā xiàn le.The secret she buried in her heart was finally discovered.
- ，。Tā mái tóu gōng zuò, lián fàn dōu wàng le chī.He buried himself in work and even forgot to eat.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎoplant
Sound part声符shēngfú
貍
貍lí埋mái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
An earlier form paired 艹 (plant) with 貍 (lí) for sound. The form 埋 later shows earth with a sound part.
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