Definition
隐形 (yǐnxíng) means 'invisible' in the literal sense of being unable to be seen by the eye, like 隐形眼镜 (contact lenses) or 隐形墨水 (invisible ink). It differs from 无形 (wúxíng), which means 'intangible' or 'formless' (not having a physical form at all), and from 隐蔽 (yǐnbì), which means 'hidden' or 'concealed' (deliberately kept out of sight).
adjective
invisible
Easily confused
- 阴性yīn xìngsound-alike(noun) negative (test result, indicating absence of a condition)
- 隐性yǐn xìngsound-alikehidden, covert, unseen (in costs, factors, etc.)
Examples
- 。Tā zài wǎng shàng mǎi le yí fù yǐn xíng yǎnjìng.He bought a pair of contact lenses online.
- 隐形。Zhè zhǒng yǐn xíng mòshuǐ kěyǐ yòng lái xiě mìmì xìnjiàn.This invisible ink can be used to write secret letters.
- 隐形。Diànyǐng lǐ de wàixīng rén chuān zhe yǐn xíng de yīfu.The aliens in the movie wore invisible clothes.
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