隐君子 (yǐn jūn zi) — reclusive scholar; hermit (especially one who withdraws out of principle)

Definition

A literary term for a scholar who lives in seclusion by choice, often out of principle or to pursue study. 比 '隐士' 更强调 '君子' 式的道德人格 (moral/principled reclusion).

noun
reclusive scholarhermit (especially one who withdraws out of principle)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，隐君子。
    Tā suī rán shì wèi zhù míng xué zhě, dàn gèng xiàng yí wèi yǐn jūn zi.
    Although he is a famous scholar, he is more like a reclusive scholar.
  • 隐君子，。
    Zhè ge cūn zi cáng zhe jǐ wèi yǐn jūn zi, hěn shǎo yǔ wài rén lái wǎng.
    This village hides a few reclusive scholars who rarely socialize with outsiders.
  • ，隐君子。
    Tā yǐn jū shān lín, chéng wéi zhēn zhèng de yǐn jūn zi.
    He secluded himself in the mountains and became a true recluse scholar.

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.

隐yǐnreclusive
君子gentleman
君jūnnoble子zǐperson
偏正Modifier + head

隐 describes a withdrawn life, while 君子 names a noble person, giving a reclusive scholar.

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 隱; 隐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
㥯
㥯㥯隱yǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 隱 pairs 阝 (阜) with 㥯 to give the sound; the simplified 隐 is a shorthand, so its right side is not 㥯.

Open 隐 →

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
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
尹
尹yǐn君jūn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

君 combines 尹 and 口. Early forms were often interchangeable with 尹, and 口 may show commands or simply be decorative.

Open 君 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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