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隐含 (yǐn hán) — to imply, to contain implicitly

Definition

隐含 (yǐn hán) means something contains an unstated meaning inside it. Unlike 意味着, which focuses on what X signifies, 隐含 emphasizes that the meaning is hidden within and not directly stated.

verb
to implyto contain implicitly

Examples

  • 隐含。
    Tā de huà yǐn hán zhe shēn kè de hán yì.
    His words imply a deep meaning.
  • 隐含。
    Zhè xiàng gǎi gé yǐn hán hěn dà de tiǎo zhàn.
    This reform implies great challenges.
  • 隐含？
    Nǐ de jué dìng yǐn hán le nǎ xiē fēng xiǎn?
    What risks does your decision imply?

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yǐnhidden
含háncontain

The hidden quality in 隐 combines with the containing in 含 to mean implied without being stated.

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kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
今
今jīn含hán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

含 is built from 口 (mouth) and 今 (jīn). The 口 part is about the mouth, while 今 gives the sound.

Open 含 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & Speech

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