揭秘 (jiē mì) — to reveal a secret; to unveil (a mystery)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to reveal/unveil a secret' — used in journalism, documentaries, and books rather than everyday speech.

verb
to reveal a secretto unveil (a mystery)

Examples

  • 揭秘。
    Zhè bù jì lù piàn jiē mì le gǔ dài dì wáng de zhēn shí shēng huó.
    This documentary reveals the real life of ancient emperors.
  • ，揭秘。
    Jì zhě shēn rù diào chá, zhōng yú jiē mì le shì jiàn de zhēn xiàng.
    The journalist investigated deeply and finally revealed the truth of the incident.
  • 揭秘。
    Zhè běn shū jiē mì le kē jì gōng sī bù wéi rén zhī de nèi mù.
    This book unveils the inside story of the tech company that people don't know.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

揭jiēreveal
秘mìsecret

揭 means reveal and 秘 means secret, so a secret is revealed.

Characters in this word

Most 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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
曷
曷hé揭jiē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

揭 pairs 扌, the hand radical (full form 手), with 曷, which supplies the sound; the hand part fits meanings like lifting or taking off.

Open 揭 →

Most 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
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
必
必bì秘Bì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 必 part gives 秘 its sound. The 禾 side replaced an older ritual marker, linking it to secret rituals and arcane meaning.

Open 秘 →

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