密布 (mì bù) — to cover densely; to be densely covered | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

密布 is a literary verb meaning something is thickly spread or covered over a surface (mines, wrinkles, trees). It focuses on what covers what, while 密集 describes things packed densely together in a space.

verb

to cover denselyto be densely covered

Examples

密布
Zhàn chǎng shàng dì léi mì bù
The battlefield was densely covered with landmines.
密布
Tā de liǎn shàng zhòu wén mì bù
Her face was covered with dense wrinkles.
密布
Sēn lín lǐ shù mù mì bù
The forest is densely covered with trees.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

布bùspread

密 adds a dense or thick sense to 布, which is to spread, giving to be spread densely.

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.

宓山密

Meaning part形符xíngfú

山山shānmountain

Sound part声符shēngfú

宓

宓mì密mì

Same sound today

密 pairs 山 (mountain) with 宓 (mì), which gives the pronunciation, to picture something hidden in the mountains, hence secret.

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

巾巾jīnkerchief

Sound part声符shēngfú

父

父fù布bù

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

布 pairs 巾, a kerchief, with 父 as a sound part.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Quantity & Amount

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.