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难言之隐 (nán yán zhī yǐn) — a painful or embarrassing secret that is hard to talk about; a sensitive topic one is reluctant to discuss

Definition

A chengyu meaning 'a hidden pain too hard to speak of' — a sensitive secret one carries silently, often revealed only with great reluctance or under pressure.

noun
a painful or embarrassing secret that is hard to talk abouta sensitive topic one is reluctant to discuss

Examples

  • 难言之隐，。
    Tā xīn zhōng yǒu yí gè nán yán zhī yǐn, yì zhí bú yuàn tí qǐ.
    He has a painful secret in his heart that he never wants to bring up.
  • 难言之隐，。
    Zhè jiàn shì chéng le tā de nán yán zhī yǐn, měi cì tí dào tā dōu hěn nán guò.
    This matter became her painful secret; every time it's mentioned she gets very sad.
  • ，难言之隐。
    Zài fǎ tíng shàng, tā zhōng yú shuō chū le mái cáng duō nián de nán yán zhī yǐn.
    In court, he finally spoke out the painful secret buried for many years.

Origin

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 難; 难 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuībird
Sound part声符shēngfú
暵
暵hàn難nán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional 難 pairs 隹, a bird, with 暵 for sound, and meant a type of bird. It was later borrowed for other meanings; the modern 难 is a shorthand.

Open 难 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The early form of 言 shows an opening and a mark indicating a location; the location is not described as the source of speech.

Open 言 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsIdioms & Set Phrases

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