埋 (mái) - To bury & to conceal

埋Tone 2

mái ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

埋 · mái

To bury;

to conceal;

to cover up;

to hide;

to immerse oneself in.

To buryto concealto cover up

Usage highlights

To buryTo bury one's headTo bury talentTo bury aliveTo concealTo set an ambush

Synonyms

  • 葬— To bury (especially a dead body)
  • 藏— To hide, conceal
  • 掩— To cover, conceal

Antonyms

  • 挖— To dig up, excavate
  • 掘— To dig, unearth
  • 露— To expose, reveal

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • They buried the treasure (埋宝藏).
  • He buried his face in his hands (埋头).
  • The ancient city was buried by volcanic ash (被火山灰埋没).
  • She buried herself in her studies (埋头学习).

Collocations

  • To bury(埋葬)
  • To bury one's head(埋头)
  • To bury talent(埋没)
  • To bury alive(活埋)
  • To conceal(埋藏)
  • To set an ambush(埋伏)

Idioms

  • To bury one's head in the sand(埋头不顾)
  • To conceal one's name and live in seclusion(隐姓埋名)
  • To harbor grievances(埋天怨地)
  • To bury the hatchet(埋冤雪耻)
  • Hidden dragons and crouching tigers(藏龙卧虎, related concept)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, proper burial (埋葬) is considered essential for showing respect to the deceased and ensuring their peaceful transition to the afterlife.
  • The concept of 'burying talent' (埋没) reflects Confucian concerns about unrecognized merit and the importance of finding worthy individuals for public service.
  • Archaeological discoveries of buried artifacts (埋藏文物) have greatly enhanced understanding of ancient Chinese civilizations.

FAQ