() — to tuck (into clothing); to hide (on one's person)

Definition

掖 (yē) is a bound verb meaning to tuck or hide something on your person (a letter in a pocket, cash in clothing). It only appears after 把 or another marker — never as a standalone predicate.

bound form
to tuck (into clothing)to hide (on one's person)

Examples

  • Tā bǎ xìn yē zài kǒu dài lǐ.
    He tucked the letter into his pocket.
  • Tā bǎ qián yē jìn nèi yī lǐ.
    She hid the money inside her underwear.
  • Xiǎo tōu bǎ zāng wù yē zài yī fu xià miàn.
    The thief hid the stolen goods under his clothes.

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
Written in full asshǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
⁰yè
Same sound today

掖 has 扌 (hand) on the left to show an action done with the hand, and 夜 on the right gives the sound.

Appears in

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