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湮没 (yān mò) — to be forgotten, to fall into oblivion

Definition

A literary verb meaning 'to be forgotten, to sink into oblivion' — something (a person, work, culture) gradually vanishes from memory or record. Far more formal and written than everyday alternatives; common in historical or reflective prose.

verb
to be forgottento fall into oblivion

Examples

  • 湮没。
    Tā de zuò pǐn jiàn jiàn yān mò zài lì shǐ cháng hé zhōng.
    His works gradually fell into oblivion in the long river of history.
  • 湮没。
    Xǔ duō gǔ dài wén huà dōu yǐ yān mò wú wén.
    Many ancient cultures have already faded into oblivion.
  • 湮没。
    Zhè wèi kē xué jiā de zǎo qī yán jiū jī hū yān mò bù zhāng.
    This scientist's early research has barely been remembered.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

湮yānsink/bury
没méisink/disappear

Both 湮 and 没 convey sinking or disappearing, so together they mean to be buried or forgotten.

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
垔
垔yīn湮
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

湮 pairs 土 (earth) with 垔, which supplies the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 沒; 没 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬛
𠬛𠬛沒mò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 沒 pairs 水 (water) with 𠬛 as a sound part; this note is about 沒, not the simplified 没.

Open 没 →
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