揜 (yǎn) - To cover & to conceal

揜Tone 3

yǎn ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

揜 · yǎn

To cover;

to conceal;

to hide;

to shut;

to close;

to capture.

To coverto concealto hide

Usage highlights

To cover the faceTo conceal the truthTo hide from viewTo close the doorTo capture aliveTo cover with hands

Synonyms

  • 掩— to cover; to conceal
  • 遮— to cover; to hide
  • 盖— to cover; to lid
  • 藏— to hide; to conceal

Antonyms

  • 露— to expose; to reveal
  • 显— to show; to display
  • 开— to open

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He covered his face with his hands (揜面).
  • The clouds concealed the moon (揜月).
  • She closed the door quietly (揜门).
  • The hunter captured the bird (揜捕).

Collocations

  • To cover the face(揜面)
  • To conceal the truth(揜实)
  • To hide from view(揜蔽)
  • To close the door(揜户)
  • To capture alive(揜捕)
  • To cover with hands(揜手)

Idioms

  • To cover the ears while stealing a bell(揜耳盗铃)
  • To cover the nose when passing by(揜鼻而过)
  • To cover the eyes and catch birds(揜目捕雀)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical texts like 'Zuo Zhuan' and 'Records of the Grand Historian' with meanings of concealment and capture.
  • Used in military contexts for surprise attacks and ambushes in historical warfare.
  • The character embodies the concept of covering or hiding, reflecting strategic thinking in Chinese culture.

FAQ