to cover up (with a hand); to ambush, to conceal; to shut
v, 11 strokes, radical 扌, rank #16395, Very Hard
yǎn(yan3) T3
1to cover up
2to close
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March 24, 2026
掩yǎn(yan3)
The character 掩 (yǎn) primarily means 'to cover up' or 'to conceal.' It is often used in contexts where something is hidden or shielded from view, such as covering one's face or ambushing someone. This character can also imply a sense of surprise or an unexpected action.
Strokes11Radical扌Frequency#16395DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese opera, actors often use masks or makeup to conceal their identities, embodying the concept of 掩 in their performances. This reflects the cultural importance of appearance versus reality in storytelling.
Memory Tip
Imagine a hand (the radical 扌) covering your eyes to surprise you. The character 掩 looks like a hand (扌) covering something (the 'cover' part at the bottom), which helps you remember that 'yǎn' means to conceal or cover up.
Meanings of 掩
yǎn(yan3)
1to cover up
2to close
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 掩
掩Simplified
11Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#16395Frequency Rank
Podcast: 掩
Podcast: 掩
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AI Study Notes for 掩
Quick Contrast
掩 (yǎn) vs 遮 (zhē) — use 掩 when emphasizing the act of covering or concealing something, while 遮 focuses more on blocking or obstructing visibility.
Usage Notes
When using 掩, be mindful of the context; it is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversation. Common collocations include 掩盖 (yǎn gài, to cover up) and 掩护 (yǎn hù, to protect or shield). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 掩 is not listed in the HSK levels, it is useful for learners familiar with HSK 4 and above. Focus on recognizing its usage in phrases related to concealment and protection, as these concepts are often explored in intermediate-level texts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 掩 with 盖 (gài, to cover), using it incorrectly in phrases like '掩房子' (yǎn fángzi) instead of '盖房子' (gài fángzi, to cover the house). Remember that 掩 specifically implies a sense of concealment.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 掩
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 奄 represents the sound.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half奄 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 掩? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 掩?
Decomposition of 掩
IDS Structure⿰扌奄
掩Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
奄yan1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 掩?
How to say to cover up in Chinese
“to cover up” in Chinese is掩yǎn
The character 掩 (yǎn) primarily means 'to cover up' or 'to conceal.' It is often used in contexts where something is hidden or shielded from view, such as covering one's face or ambushing someone. This character can also imply a sense of surprise or an unexpected action.
When to use 掩
When using 掩, be mindful of the context; it is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversation. Common collocations include 掩盖 (yǎn gài, to cover up) and 掩护 (yǎn hù, to protect or shield). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.
掩 or something close to it
掩 (yǎn) vs 遮 (zhē) — use 掩 when emphasizing the act of covering or concealing something, while 遮 focuses more on blocking or obstructing visibility.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 掩 with 盖 (gài, to cover), using it incorrectly in phrases like '掩房子' (yǎn fángzi) instead of '盖房子' (gài fángzi, to cover the house). Remember that 掩 specifically implies a sense of concealment.
Write 掩
掩
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Practice writing 掩 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 掩
掩 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 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这种做生意的方式偷偷摸摸，遮遮____掩。
It is a sneaky and underhand way of doing business.
