匿 (nì) — to hide; hidden (bound form, used in compounds)

Definition

A formal, bookish 'hide / hidden' that almost never stands alone — it surfaces inside set compounds like 匿名, 藏匿, and 隐匿. As a bound form it contributes the 'conceal' idea while the other character carries the main meaning.

bound form
to hidehidden (bound form, used in compounds)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tā xiě le yì fēng nì míng xìn.
    He wrote an anonymous letter.
  • 。
    Zuì fàn shì tú cáng nì zì jǐ de shēn fèn.
    The criminal tried to conceal his identity.
  • 。
    Zhè ge wén jiàn de nì míng xuǎn xiàng hěn zhòng yào.
    The anonymous option of this file is very important.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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
匸匸xìto conceal
Sound part声符shēngfú
若
若ruò匿nì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

匿 pairs 匸, meaning to conceal, with 若, which gives the sound.

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