蓋 (gài) - Cover, lid, canopy & to cover, conceal

蓋Tone 4

gài ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

蓋 · gài

Cover, lid, canopy;

to cover, conceal;

to build, construct;

approximately, about;

also used as a surname.

Cover, lid, canopyto cover, concealto build, construct

Usage highlights

CoverBuild a houseCover with a quiltOfficial sealCanopyCover up

Synonyms

  • 覆— to cover, overturn
  • 罩— to cover, shield
  • 掩— to cover, conceal

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Put the lid on the pot (锅盖).
  • They built a new house (盖房子).
  • The sky is covered with clouds (盖着云).
  • This is a world-class achievement (盖世无双).

Collocations

  • Cover(盖子)
  • Build a house(盖房子)
  • Cover with a quilt(盖被子)
  • Official seal(盖章)
  • Canopy(华盖)
  • Cover up(掩盖)

Idioms

  • Unprecedented in the world(盖世无双)
  • Cover the sky with one hand(一手遮天)
  • A towering achievement(功盖天地)
  • Cover the ears while stealing a bell(掩耳盗铃)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a covering made of straw or thatch, later extended to various types of covers and lids.
  • In ancient texts, used as an adverb meaning 'approximately' or 'generally'.
  • Associated with imperial authority through terms like '华盖' (canopy), which was part of imperial regalia.

FAQ