Definitions

mán (verb) to conceal; to hide (truth) from someone

Etymology phono-semantic

eye

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "瞒", traditionally written as "瞞", derives from a structural composition that integrates the radical for "eye" (目) with the component "㒼", which historically served as a phonetic element while also implying a sense of covering or obscuring. This etymology suggests an initial association with physical acts of visual concealment, such as lowering one's gaze or shutting the eyes, which metaphorically extended to denote the hiding of truth or the practice of deception. Over time, its meaning broadened from these literal gestures to encompass more abstract forms of dishonesty, where intentional secrecy or falsehoods are maintained. The simplified form "瞒" modifies the phonetic part to "满", yet this alteration preserves the core semantic link to the eye and the act of concealment, reflecting how the character's fundamental concept of misleading through obscured information has persisted through its linguistic development.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

着父母去了北京。

Tā mánzhe fùmǔ qùle Běijīng.

He went to Beijing without telling his parents.

她经常着我做决定。

Tā jīngcháng mánzhe wǒ zuò juédìng.

She often makes decisions without telling me.

为了不让他担心,我着这件事。

Wèile bù ràng tā dānxīn, wǒ mánzhe zhè jiàn shì.

To avoid worrying him, I kept this matter from him.

你不应该着你的错误。

Nǐ bù yīnggāi mánzhe nǐ de cuòwù.

You shouldn't hide your mistakes.

尽管他试图着大家,但秘密最终还是泄露了。

Jǐnguǎn tā shìtú mánzhe dàjiā, dàn mìmì zuìzhōng háishì xièlòule.

Although he tried to keep it from everyone, the secret eventually leaked out.

你为什么要着我这么重要的事情?

Nǐ wèishéme yào mánzhe wǒ zhème zhòngyào de shìqíng?

Why did you hide such an important matter from me?

公司隐了财务报告中的关键数据。

Gōngsī yǐnmánle cáiwù bàogào zhōng de guānjiàn shùjù.

The company concealed key data in the financial report.

如果当初他没有着病情,治疗可能会更及时。

Rúguǒ dāngchū tā méiyǒu mánzhe bìngqíng, zhìliáo kěnéng huì gèng jíshí.

If he hadn't hidden his illness back then, treatment might have been more timely.