匿 nì to hide
to hide; to go into hiding
How to remember 匿: 匚 side box + 若 if = to hide. The cat jumps into the cardboard side box whenever the doorbell rings, as if she knows the vet is coming and needs to hide.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
匿 = 匚 side box + 若 if
- 匚 side box meaning
- 若 if sound
The cat jumps into the cardboard side box whenever the doorbell rings, as if she knows the vet is coming and needs to hide.
How it came to be
The hidden box gives the meaning and the part for if the sound.
How it is used
- To hide/conceal (oneself or facts): 隐匿 (yǐnnì) to conceal, 藏匿 (cángnì) to go into hiding, 匿名 (nìmíng) anonymous.
- 匿名 is the high-frequency word: 匿名信 (nìmíngxìn) an anonymous letter, 匿名举报 to report anonymously.
- Written register; implies deliberately keeping out of sight.