埋藏 (mái cáng) — to bury, to hide (by burying) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary verb 'to bury / hide away' (literal or figurative, like a secret or memory). Stronger and more written than 埋, which is the everyday 'to bury' (e.g., trash, treasure).

verb

to buryto hide (by burying)

Examples

埋藏。
Tā men zài shān lǐ mái cáng le hěn duō wén wù.
They buried many cultural relics in the mountains.
埋藏。
Tā bǎ duì guò qù de huí yì mái cáng zài xīn dǐ.
He buried his memories of the past deep in his heart.
埋藏。
Zhè ge mì mì bèi mái cáng le hěn duō nián.
This secret was buried for many years.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

Burying and hiding combine to mean placing something concealed underground.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎoplant

Sound part声符shēngfú

貍

貍lí埋mái

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

An earlier form paired 艹 (plant) with 貍 (lí) for sound. The form 埋 later shows earth with a sound part.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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