蛰伏 (zhé fú) — to hibernate (for animals); (figuratively) to lie low, to bide one's time
Definition
Literally 'to hibernate' for animals, but more often used figuratively: lying low or biding one's time before acting. Example 2 shows the human sense: staying quiet at work until the right chance comes.
verb
to hibernate (for animals)(figuratively) to lie lowto bide one's time
Examples
- ，蛰伏。Dōng tiān yí dào, xǔ duō dòng wù jiù kāi shǐ zhé fú le.As soon as winter arrives, many animals begin to hibernate.
- 蛰伏，。Tā zài gōng sī zhé fú le sān nián, zhōng yú děng dào le shēng zhí de jī huì.He laid low at the company for three years and finally got a promotion opportunity.
- 蛰伏，。Dí jūn zhé fú zài shù lín lǐ, děng dài jìn gōng de mìng lìng.The enemy troops were concealed in the woods, awaiting the order to attack.
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