盖 (gài) - Cover, lid, canopy & to cover, to build

盖Tone 4

gài ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

盖 · gài

Cover, lid, canopy;

to cover, to build;

also used as a surname;

in classical Chinese, can function as an adverb meaning 'probably' or 'roughly'.

Cover, lid, canopyto cover, to buildalso used as a surname

Usage highlights

CoverBuild a houseCanopySealCover upCover story

Synonyms

  • 罩— cover, shade
  • 覆— to cover, to overturn
  • 建— to build, to construct

Antonyms

  • 揭— to uncover, to lift
  • 露— to expose, to reveal

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Put the lid on the pot (锅盖).
  • They built a new house (盖房子).
  • The sky is like a canopy (天似穹盖).
  • This is probably true (盖亦如此).

Collocations

  • Cover(盖子)
  • Build a house(盖房子)
  • Canopy(华盖)
  • Seal(盖章)
  • Cover up(掩盖)
  • Cover story(封面故事)

Idioms

  • Cover the sky with one hand(一手遮天)
  • Cover one's ears while stealing a bell(掩耳盗铃)
  • A towering achievement(冠盖如云)
  • To cover up one's faults(文过饰非)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used as a surname with historical roots, including figures from ancient China.
  • In classical literature, often appears as an adverb introducing a supposition or explanation.
  • The character embodies concepts of protection, construction, and concealment.

FAQ