暗藏 (àn cáng) — to conceal, to hide (secretly)

Definition

暗藏 (àn cáng) means 'to conceal' or 'to harbor', usually something hidden with intent to keep it secret. It pairs with abstract things (秘密, 危险, 杀机) more than purely physical objects.

verb
to concealto hide (secretly)

Examples

  • 暗藏。
    Tā zài fáng jiān lǐ àn cáng le yì bǎ dāo.
    He concealed a knife in the room.
  • 暗藏。
    Zhè xiē wén jiàn bèi àn cáng zài shū jià hòu miàn.
    These documents were hidden behind the bookshelf.
  • 暗藏。
    Tā xīn lǐ àn cáng zhe hěn duō mì mì.
    She harbors many secrets in her heart.

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ànsecretly
藏cánghide

暗 (secretly) and 藏 (hide) combine to mean to conceal something without notice.

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 →

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
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
臧
臧zāng藏cáng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

藏 is made from 艸 (grass) and 臧, where 臧 gives the sound.

Open 藏 →

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