烟幕弹 (yān mù dàn) — smoke shell, smoke bomb (military); (figurative) smoke screen, diversion, something used to conceal the truth

Definition

Literally a military 'smoke shell' used to hide troops. Figuratively, it means a 'smoke screen' — words or actions meant to distract and conceal the real truth or intent.

noun
smoke shellsmoke bomb (military)(figurative) smoke screen, diversion, something used to conceal the truth
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 烟幕弹，。
    Dí rén fā shè le yān mù dàn, yǎn hù bù duì chè tuì.
    The enemy fired smoke shells to cover the troops' retreat.
  • 烟幕弹，。
    Tā shuō de nà xiē huà dōu shì yān mù dàn, bié xiāng xìn tā.
    Everything he said is just a smoke screen — don't believe him.
  • 烟幕弹。
    Zhè ge xīn wén míng xiǎn shì zhèng kè fàng de yān mù dàn.
    This news is clearly a smoke screen released by politicians.

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.

烟幕smoke screen
烟yānsmoke幕mùcurtain
偏正Modifier + head
弹tánshell

“烟” means smoke and “幕” means curtain, forming a smoke screen; “弹” is the shell.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 煙; 烟 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 烟 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (烟) it is 煙; in others it is 菸.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
垔
垔yīn煙yān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

This story is about the traditional form 煙, not the simplified 烟. It pairs 火, fire, with 垔, which gives the sound.

Open 烟 →

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
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
莫
莫mò幕mù
Same sound today

幕 combines 莫 above 巾 (cloth); 莫 gives the sound.

Open 幕 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 彈; 弹 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
弓弓gōng
Sound part声符shēngfú
單
單dān彈tán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 彈 pairs 弓 (bow) with the sound part 單; the simplified 弹 is a shorthand.

Open 弹 →

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