包藏 (bāo cáng) — to harbor, to conceal (usually of ill intent, danger, or secrets)

Definition

A literary verb meaning to harbor or conceal (malice, danger, evidence) hidden inside something. Almost always used in the context of ill intent, risk, or secrets — not neutral 'contain'.

verb
to harborto conceal (usually of ill intent, danger, or secrets)

Examples

  • ，包藏。
    Tā biǎo miàn yǒu shàn, nèi xīn què bāo cáng zhe è yì.
    He appears friendly on the surface but harbors malice inside.
  • 包藏。
    Zhè ge jì huà bāo cáng zhe jù dà de fēng xiǎn.
    This plan contains enormous risks.
  • 包藏。
    Jǐng fāng huái yí tā bāo cáng le zhòng yào zhèng jù.
    The police suspect he concealed important evidence.

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.

包bāowrap
藏cánghide

包 (wrap) and 藏 (hide) combine to mean keeping something concealed.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 包 pictures a fetus in a womb, or a baby wrapped in cloth.

Open 包 →

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
臧
臧zāng藏cáng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

藏 is made from 艸 (grass) and 臧, where 臧 gives the sound.

Open 藏 →

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