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暗中 (àn zhōng) — (noun) the dark; a place hidden from view; (noun) a state of obscurity or secrecy

Definition

暗中 (ànzhōng) is a noun for the dark or a hidden place, and by extension the secrecy of acting unseen. Unlike 偷偷 or 悄悄, it names the concealed setting rather than the stealthy manner of an action.

noun
the darka place hidden from viewa state of obscurity or secrecy

Examples

  • 暗中，。
    Tā gù yì duǒ zài àn zhōng, děng péng you jīng guò.
    He deliberately hid in the dark, waiting for his friend to pass by.
  • 暗中。
    Jǐng chá yì zhí yǐn cáng zài àn zhōng guān chá xián yí rén.
    The police stayed hidden in the dark, watching the suspect.
  • 暗中。
    Cóng àn zhōng tū rán chōng chū yì zhī māo.
    A cat suddenly dashed out from the dark.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

暗àndark
中zhōngmiddle

暗 'dark' modifies 中 'middle', giving 'in the dark'.

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
日日rìsun
Sound part声符shēngfú
音
音yīn暗àn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

暗 pairs 日 (sun) with 音, which gives the sound.

Open 暗 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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