潜伏 (qiánfú) means to lurk or to hide, often used in contexts related to someone or something remaining hidden or concealed, especially in a strategic or secretive manner. It can imply a sense of waiting for the right moment to act or emerge, such as in military operations or espionage.
HSK 7, 16 strokes, Hard
qiánfú(qian2fu2) T2
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May 27, 2026
潜伏qiánfú(qian2fu2)
潜伏 (qiánfú) means to lurk or to hide, often used in contexts related to someone or something remaining hidden or concealed, especially in a strategic or secretive manner. It can imply a sense of waiting for the right moment to act or emerge, such as in military operations or espionage.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
The concept of 潜伏 is often associated with themes of secrecy and strategy in Chinese literature and cinema, particularly in spy movies where characters must remain undetected to achieve their goals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a ninja (representing the '潜' part) hiding underwater (the '伏' part means to lie down or crouch) before leaping into action. The 'qián' sounds like 'can' in English, so think of a ninja that 'can' stay hidden until the right moment.
About 潜伏
潜伏Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 潜伏
Podcast: 潜伏
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AI Study Notes for 潜伏
Quick Contrast
潜藏 (qiáncáng) — use 潜伏 (qiánfú) when emphasizing the act of lying in wait or being strategically hidden, while 潜藏 (qiáncáng) focuses more on the aspect of being concealed or hidden without the strategic connotation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a ninja (representing the '潜' part) hiding underwater (the '伏' part means to lie down or crouch) before leaping into action. The 'qián' sounds like 'can' in English, so think of a ninja that 'can' stay hidden until the right moment.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 潜伏 with similar terms like 潜水 (qiánshuǐ, diving), which has a more specific meaning. This word is more formal and is often used in literary or serious contexts, so it may not be appropriate for casual conversation.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 7 word, focus on understanding its usage in more advanced reading materials, especially in contexts involving military, politics, or drama. Connecting it to other words like 隐藏 (yǐncáng, to hide) can enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
The concept of 潜伏 is often associated with themes of secrecy and strategy in Chinese literature and cinema, particularly in spy movies where characters must remain undetected to achieve their goals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 潜伏 in casual contexts, where simpler words like 躲 (duǒ, to hide) are more appropriate. For example, saying '我今天去潜伏在家里' (I will lurk at home today) sounds overly dramatic and formal.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 潜伏
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Cultural Notes for 潜伏
🏮Cultural insight
The concept of 潜伏 is often associated with themes of secrecy and strategy in Chinese literature and cinema, particularly in spy movies where characters must remain undetected to achieve their goals.
Frequently Asked Questions about 潜伏
You can say: '他在敌人后方潜伏了很多天。(He lurked behind enemy lines for many days.)'
No, 潜伏 is typically used in more formal or literary contexts, rather than in casual speech.
Yes, synonyms include 隐藏 (yǐncáng, to hide) and 潜藏 (qiáncáng, to conceal).
