Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

cover up; to surprise

Chinese: 遮盖、隐藏。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “yan” becomes a different word in each tone. 掩 is the 3rd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 掩饰yǎn shìto cover up; to conceal; to mask; to gloss over
  • 掩盖yǎn gàito conceal; to hide behind; to cover up
  • 掩护yǎn hùto screen; to shield; to cover; protection
  • 掩体yǎn tǐbunker (military)
  • 掩杀yǎn shāto make a surprise attack; to pounce on (an enemy)

Example Sentence

她不好意思地用手掩住了嘴。Tā bù hǎo yì si de yòng shǒu yǎn zhù le zuǐ.She shyly covered her mouth with her hand.

she不好意思bù hǎo yì sito feel embarrassedde(adverb marker)yòngto useshǒuhandyǎnto cover upzhùto livele(completed action)zuǐmouth