Meanings of 昧
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About 昧
Podcast: 昧
Podcast: 昧
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AI Study Notes for 昧
暗 (àn) - use 昧 when emphasizing concealment or obscurity, while 暗 refers specifically to physical darkness.
Learners should be cautious with the pronunciation, especially the fourth tone which can be easily confused with other similar-sounding characters. 昧 is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially in literature or philosophical discussions, so it may not be as prevalent in everyday conversations.
Although 昧 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects with vocabulary related to darkness and ignorance, like 黑 (hēi - black) or 忘 (wàng - to forget). Focus on understanding its use in literary contexts to enhance comprehension of advanced texts.
Learners often confuse 昧 with similar characters like 迷 (mí - to be lost or confused). For example, saying '我对这个问题很迷' (wǒ duì zhège wèntí hěn mí - I am very lost about this question) instead of using 昧 to imply ignorance can lead to misunderstandings.
Pronunciation of 昧
Drill the tone of 昧 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 昧
Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 未 represents the sound.
sun
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 昧
Phonosemantic compound. 日 represents the meaning and 未 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half日 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half未 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaysun
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 昧? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 昧?
Decomposition of 昧
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How to say to conceal in Chinese
“to conceal” in Chinese is昧
The character 昧 (mèi) primarily means to conceal or to be obscure and is often used to describe something that is dark or hidden from view. It can refer both to physical darkness and to the metaphorical obscurity of knowledge or truth, making it useful in contexts discussing ignorance or deception.
When to use 昧
Learners should be cautious with the pronunciation, especially the fourth tone which can be easily confused with other similar-sounding characters. 昧 is more commonly used in formal contexts, especially in literature or philosophical discussions, so it may not be as prevalent in everyday conversations.
昧 or something close to it
暗 (àn) - use 昧 when emphasizing concealment or obscurity, while 暗 refers specifically to physical darkness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 昧 with similar characters like 迷 (mí - to be lost or confused). For example, saying '我对这个问题很迷' (wǒ duì zhège wèntí hěn mí - I am very lost about this question) instead of using 昧 to imply ignorance can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 昧
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Practice writing 昧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 昧
昧 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
现在就判断结果将会怎样未免有些冒____。
It would be presumptuous to judge what the outcome will be.
Example Sentences for 昧 (4)
Word Family of 昧
Compound Meaning
What does 暧昧 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 昧
Synonyms include 隐蔽 (yǐnbì - conceal) and 模糊 (móhú - vague), which can also convey the idea of obscurity.
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