潜伏 (qián fú) — to lurk, to be in hiding (for people, animals); to be latent, to be dormant (for diseases, dangers)
Definition
潜伏 emphasizes staying hidden over time while waiting or remaining undetected, used for people (spies) and for latent conditions (viruses, dangers). Unlike 隐瞒 or 掩盖, which actively cover something up, 潜伏 stresses lying low unnoticed.
verb
to lurkto be in hiding (for people, animals)to be latentto be dormant (for diseases, dangers)
Examples
- 潜伏。Jiàn dié qián fú zài chéng shì lǐ.The spy lurks in the city.
- 。Zhè zhǒng bìng dú qián fú qī hěn cháng.This virus has a long incubation period.
- 潜伏，。Tā zài àn zhōng qián fú, děng dài jī huì.He lurks in the dark, waiting for an opportunity.
Appears in
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