jan2隱隐
Jyutpingjan2
Yaleyán
Definition
To hide, conceal, or cover up.
neutraldaily actions
How it's used
While 隱 is a formal morpheme often found in compounds, it rarely stands alone as a verb in spoken Cantonese. Native speakers prefer using phrasal verbs like 收埋 or 匿埋 to express the act of hiding something or oneself. When you see 隱 in daily life, it is almost always part of a set phrase or a more formal written context.
Examples
He hid the gift very carefully.
Why do you have to conceal this matter?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use 隱 as a standalone verb, but it is not productive in colloquial speech. Always use 匿埋 when talking about hiding yourself, or 收埋 when hiding an object.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
