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.
Appears in
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