Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
匽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
匽yǎnto hide, to repress; to bendzg, 9 strokes, radical 匸
匽yǎnto hide, to secrete, to repressunknown, 9 strokes, radical 匸
yǎn(yan3)yan T3
  1. 1to hide, to repress; to bend
  2. 2to hide, to secrete, to repress
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

匽yǎn(yan3)

The character 匽 (yǎn) primarily means to hide or repress something, often referring to emotions or thoughts that are kept concealed. It can also imply bending or flexing, suggesting a physical or metaphorical form of distortion or alteration. This word is less commonly used in modern Chinese and may appear in literary contexts or classical texts.

Strokes9Radical匸
Cultural Note

The concept of repressing emotions is significant in Chinese culture, where expressing feelings openly is often discouraged. This character reflects the cultural tendency to keep personal thoughts hidden, especially in formal settings or traditional contexts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bent tree (representing 'bending') hiding a nest of birds (representing 'to hide'). The character 匽 looks like a tree (the left part) with a secret (the right part) concealed beneath its branches, reminding you of the sound 'yǎn' as you think of this hidden nest.

Meanings of 匽

yǎn(yan3)
1to hide, to repress; to bend
2to hide, to secrete, to repress
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 匽 means.

About 匽

匽Simplified
9Strokes
匸Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 匽

JasonAmy

Podcast: 匽

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 匽

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 匽 with similar-sounding characters, such as 隱 (yǐn), which also means to hide but is more commonly used. This word is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, so it's important to recognize its less frequent usage in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the third tone of 'yǎn', as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Since 匽 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it may not be directly relevant for HSK learners. However, understanding its meaning can enhance your vocabulary related to emotions and concealment, helping to connect with other words about feelings and secrecy at higher levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners might use 匽 in everyday conversation when a more common word like 隱 (yǐn) is appropriate. For instance, saying '我匽我的感情' (wǒ yǎn wǒ de gǎnqíng) instead of '我隱藏我的感情' (wǒ yǐncáng wǒ de gǎnqíng) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 匽

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 匽 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 匽 to You

Let me explain 匽 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 匽 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 匽?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 匽 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 匽

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

box

Semantic (meaning)匸
+
Phonetic (sound)妟
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

匽 = 匸 + 妟. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 匽

IDS Structure⿷匸妟
匽Full Character
=
匸xi4
enclosing
妟yan4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 匽?

How to say to hide, to repress; to bend in Chinese

“to hide, to repress; to bend” in Chinese is匽yǎn

The character 匽 (yǎn) primarily means to hide or repress something, often referring to emotions or thoughts that are kept concealed. It can also imply bending or flexing, suggesting a physical or metaphorical form of distortion or alteration. This word is less commonly used in modern Chinese and may appear in literary contexts or classical texts.

When to use 匽

Learners often confuse 匽 with similar-sounding characters, such as 隱 (yǐn), which also means to hide but is more commonly used. This word is generally used in more formal or literary contexts, so it's important to recognize its less frequent usage in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the third tone of 'yǎn', as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners might use 匽 in everyday conversation when a more common word like 隱 (yǐn) is appropriate. For instance, saying '我匽我的感情' (wǒ yǎn wǒ de gǎnqíng) instead of '我隱藏我的感情' (wǒ yǐncáng wǒ de gǎnqíng) is incorrect.

Write 匽

匽

Practice writing 匽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 匽?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Frequently Asked Questions about 匽

It is pronounced as 'yǎn' with a third tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 匽?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab