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掩盖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
掩盖yǎngàito concealHSK 7, v, rank #3875, Hard
掩盖yǎngàito hide behindHSK 7, v, rank #3875, Hard
掩盖yǎngàito cover upHSK 7, v, rank #3875, Hard
yǎngài(yan3gai4) T3
  1. 1to conceal
  2. 2to hide behind
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March 24, 2026
掩盖(掩蓋)yǎngài(yan3gai4)

The verb 掩盖 (yǎn gài) means to conceal or cover up something, often referring to hiding the truth or obscuring facts. It is commonly used in contexts involving deception, secrecy, or protection, such as covering up mistakes or hiding emotions.

Frequency#3875DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, themes of face and reputation are significant, leading to a strong emphasis on the act of covering up mistakes to maintain dignity. This concept is often reflected in literature and media.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person trying to cover their face with a large cloak (盖), symbolizing the act of hiding (掩). The 'yǎn' sound can remind you of 'yarn,' which you might use to weave a story that covers up the truth.

Meanings of 掩盖

yǎngài(yan3gai4)
1to conceal
2to hide behind
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 掩盖

掩盖Simplified
掩蓋Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3875Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 掩盖

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Podcast: 掩盖

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AI Study Notes for 掩盖

Quick Contrast

掩饰 (yǎnshì) is more about disguising or masking something rather than completely covering it up, while 隐藏 (yǐncáng) refers specifically to hiding something away from view or knowledge.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person trying to cover their face with a large cloak (盖), symbolizing the act of hiding (掩). The 'yǎn' sound can remind you of 'yarn,' which you might use to weave a story that covers up the truth.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 掩盖 with similar verbs like 隐藏 (yǐn cáng), which means to hide in a more general sense. This term is more formal and may be found in written contexts or news reports, so avoid using it in casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 掩盖 connects with other vocabulary related to concealment and truth, such as 隐瞒 (yǐnmán, to conceal) and 伪装 (wěi zhuāng, to disguise). Focus on understanding its usage in formal contexts and with collocations like '掩盖真相' (to cover up the truth).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, themes of face and reputation are significant, leading to a strong emphasis on the act of covering up mistakes to maintain dignity. This concept is often reflected in literature and media.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 掩盖 with 隐藏, leading to phrases like '掩盖我的情绪' (to cover up my emotions), where '隐藏' would be more appropriate. Always consider the context to choose the right verb.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 掩盖

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Component Characters

yǎnto cover up
11 strokes
View full entry
gàilid
HSK 511 strokes
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Write 掩盖

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

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Grammar Patterns of 掩盖

掩盖 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

它们看上去有益健康,实则____了其为精加工食品这一事实。

Their healthy image disguises the fact that they are highly processed foods.

Example Sentences for 掩盖 (5)

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1
它们看上去有益健康,实则掩盖了其为精加工食品这一事实。

tā mén kàn shàng qù yǒu yì jiàn kāng, , shí zé yǎn gài le qí wéi jīng jiā gōng shí pǐn zhè yī shì。

Their healthy image disguises the fact that they are highly processed foods.
2
但和其他慈善机构一样,这些数字掩盖了实情。

dàn hé qí tā cí shàn jī gòu yī yàng, , zhè xiē shù zì yǎn gài le shí。

But as with other charitable bodies, these figures mask the true picture.
3
比方说澳大利亚的宏大地下蓄水层就掩盖了整个国度的东半部.

bǐ fāng shuō ào dà lì yà de hóng dà dì xià xù shuǐ céng jiù yǎn gài le zhěng gè guó dù de dōng bàn bù.

Australias great aquifer covers the eastern half of the country, for instance.
4
这个被用来掩盖他们思想的混乱和不准确。

zhè gè bèi yòng lái yǎn gài tā mén sī xiǎng de hùn luàn hé bù zhǔn què。

This served to hide the confusion and imprecision in their thinking.
5
“ 不, " 敏妮轻轻说道.她故意把碗碟弄出声响来掩盖她们的谈话声."他不会去的.

“ “," bù , " mǐn nī qīng qīng. shuō dào . tā gù yì bǎ wǎn dié nòng chū shēng xiǎng lái yǎn gài tā mén de." tán huà shēng ." tā.

" No, " returned Minnie softly, and rattling the dishes to drown the conversation.

Cultural Notes for 掩盖

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, themes of face and reputation are significant, leading to a strong emphasis on the act of covering up mistakes to maintain dignity. This concept is often reflected in literature and media.

Frequently Asked Questions about 掩盖

Common phrases include '掩盖真相' (to cover up the truth) and '掩盖问题' (to conceal issues).