隐没 (yǐn mò) — (verb) to conceal, to hide (from view); (verb) to vanish, to disappear, to be lost from sight

Definition

A literary verb meaning to vanish or fade from sight, often into surroundings like fog, crowd, or twilight. Stronger and more written than 消失, with a sense of being gradually hidden rather than abruptly gone.

verb
to concealto hide (from view)to vanishto disappearto be lost from sight

Examples

  • 隐没。
    Tā xùn sù yǐn mò zài rén qún shēn chù.
    He quickly concealed himself deep in the crowd.
  • 隐没。
    Xī yáng huǎn huǎn yǐn mò yú dì píng xiàn.
    The setting sun slowly vanished below the horizon.
  • 隐没。
    Tā de shēn yǐng jiàn jiàn yǐn mò zài nóng wù zhōng.
    Her figure gradually disappeared into the thick fog.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

隐yǐnhide
没méidisappear

隐 and 没 both describe disappearing from view, giving concealment or vanishing.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →

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