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隐情 (yǐn qíng) — hidden facts or reasons one prefers not to disclose; ulterior motive (negative sense)

Definition

隐情 refers to facts or motives someone deliberately hides — usually because revealing them would be damaging or embarrassing. It implies active concealment, unlike 隐私, which is simply 'private matters' someone has a right to keep.

noun
hidden facts or reasons one prefers not to discloseulterior motive (negative sense)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 隐情。
    Tā cí zhí yí dìng yǒu yǐn qíng.
    His resignation must have some hidden reason.
  • ，隐情。
    Tā bù kěn shuō yuán yīn, sì hū yǒu shén me yǐn qíng.
    She wouldn't tell the reason; she seems to have a hidden secret.
  • 隐情，。
    Zhè jiàn shì bèi hòu yǒu méi yǒu yǐn qíng, wǒ men hái bù qīng chǔ.
    Whether there is an ulterior motive behind this matter, we are not sure yet.

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
情qíngfacts; reasons

隐 (hidden) describes 情 (facts or reasons), referring to matters one does not wish to disclose.

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
青
青qīng情qíng
Same sound today

情 shows 心 (heart) beside 青, which gives the sound. The heart part points to feelings and inner states.

Open 情 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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