隱 (yǐn) - Hidden, concealed, secret & to hide, to conceal

隱Tone 3

yǐn ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

懿嘤

隱 · yǐn

Hidden, concealed, secret;

to hide, to conceal;

latent;

mysterious;

to retire from public life.

Hidden, concealed, secretto hide, to conceallatent

Usage highlights

To hide/concealHidden dangerSecret sorrowTo live in seclusionPrivacyImplied meaning

Synonyms

  • 藏— to hide, to conceal
  • 匿— to hide, to conceal
  • 蔽— to cover, to shield

Antonyms

  • 顯— obvious, apparent, to show
  • 露— to expose, to reveal
  • 現— to appear, to manifest

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The spy remained hidden (隱藏) in the enemy city.
  • He has a secret sorrow (隱痛).
  • The hermit lived in seclusion (隱居).
  • The meaning is implied (隱含) rather than stated.

Collocations

  • To hide/conceal(隱藏)
  • Hidden danger(隱患)
  • Secret sorrow(隱痛)
  • To live in seclusion(隱居)
  • Privacy(隱私)
  • Implied meaning(隱含義)

Idioms

  • To live in seclusion and remain unknown(隱姓埋名)
  • To speak in riddles(隱晦曲折)
  • To reveal the hidden and elucidate the obscure(發隱擿伏)
  • A hidden dragon and a crouching tiger(臥虎藏龍)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Daoist and Confucian traditions, 'yin' (隱) often refers to the ideal of withdrawing from society to cultivate virtue and wisdom.
  • The concept is central to the Chinese literati tradition of the reclusive scholar-official who retires from public life.
  • It reflects a cultural value placed on humility, modesty, and the power of the unseen or unstated.

FAQ