隐 (yǐn) - conceal, hide, latent, secret & to withdraw from society

隐Tone 3

yǐn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

懿嘤

隐 · yǐn

conceal, hide, latent, secret;

to withdraw from society;

hermit.

conceal, hide, latent, secretto withdraw from societyhermit.

Usage highlights

to live in seclusionhidden dangersecret sorrowprivate partconceal one's identityimplicit meaning

Synonyms

  • 藏— to hide, conceal
  • 匿— to hide, conceal
  • 秘— secret

Antonyms

  • 显— apparent, obvious, visible
  • 露— to expose, reveal
  • 现— to appear, manifest

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He lives in seclusion (隐居).
  • This is a hidden danger (隐患).
  • She has a secret sorrow (隐痛).
  • The meaning is implicit (含义隐晦).

Collocations

  • to live in seclusion(隐居)
  • hidden danger(隐患)
  • secret sorrow(隐痛)
  • private part(隐私)
  • conceal one's identity(隐姓埋名)
  • implicit meaning(隐晦的含义)

Idioms

  • To conceal one's name and live incognito(隐姓埋名)
  • To live in seclusion from the world(遁世隐居)
  • To hint at something without stating it explicitly(隐约其辞)
  • A hidden dragon and a crouching tiger (卧虎藏龙) - implying hidden talent

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Associated with Daoist and Buddhist ideals of withdrawing from worldly affairs to seek spiritual cultivation.
  • Historically linked to the scholar-recluse (隐士) tradition in China, where learned individuals avoided government service.
  • The concept of 隐 is deeply connected to the appreciation of subtlety and the unspoken in Chinese aesthetics.

FAQ