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隐患 (yǐn huàn) — hidden danger; latent problem; potential risk

Definition

隐患 (yǐnhuàn) refers to a danger that is not yet visible or has not yet caused harm — a hidden risk waiting to surface. The 隐 ('hidden') highlights that the problem is latent, unlike an obvious, present danger.

noun
hidden dangerlatent problempotential risk

Examples

  • 隐患。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù cún zài hěn duō yǐn huàn.
    This project has many hidden dangers.
  • 隐患。
    Tí qián fā xiàn yǐn huàn kě yǐ bì miǎn zhòng dà sǔn shī.
    Discovering hidden dangers in advance can avoid major losses.
  • 隐患。
    Gōng sī bì xū xiāo chú cái wù yǐn huàn.
    The company must eliminate financial hidden dangers.

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.

隐yǐnhidden
患huàndanger

隐 (hidden) describes 患 (danger), making a latent problem not seen on the surface.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 隱; 隐 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
㥯
㥯㥯隱yǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 隱 pairs 阝 (阜) with 㥯 to give the sound; the simplified 隐 is a shorthand, so its right side is not 㥯.

Open 隐 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
串
串chuàn患huàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

患 is made from 心, a heart, plus 串, which gives the sound. Some old explanations also read the upper part as piercing through the heart.

Open 患 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Safety & Danger

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