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隐蔽 (yǐn bì) — (verb) to conceal, to hide; (adjective) covert, under cover, hidden

Definition

Connotes hiding something in a place or manner that is itself hidden or hard to detect — used for bases, activities, and objects. Compare 隐藏 (to hide in general) and 隐瞒 (to conceal the truth).

verb
to concealto hide
adjective
covertunder coverhidden

Examples

  • 隐蔽。
    Tā yǐn bì le zhòng yào de wén jiàn.
    He concealed the important documents.
  • 隐蔽，。
    Zhè ge jī dì fēi cháng yǐn bì, wài rén hěn nán zhǎo dào.
    This base is very covert; outsiders find it difficult to find.
  • 隐蔽，。
    Tā yǐn bì le zì jǐ de qíng xù, méi yǒu ràng bié rén kàn chū lái.
    She concealed her emotions and didn't let others see.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

隐yǐnconceal
蔽bìcover

隐 and 蔽 both mean to cover or hide, giving the sense of concealment or being hidden.

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
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
敝
敝bì蔽⁰bì
Same sound today

蔽 combines 艸 (grass) with 敝, which gives the sound.

Open 蔽 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract ConceptsSafety & Danger

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