掩 Stroke Order — How to Write 掩
掩 is written in 11 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 扌, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
掩 Radical and Character Components
掩 is a phono-semantic compound: 扌 (hand) carries the meaning, while 奄 indicates the sound.
Radical: 扌 + 8 more strokes
掩 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- yǎn
Meanings of 掩 in Chinese
1
yǎn掩
To cover, conceal, or hide; often used to describe actions like shielding, glossing over, burying, or obscuring something from view or knowledge.
他试图掩盖自己的过错，但最终还是被发现了。
He tried to cover up his mistakes, but eventually they were discovered.
To close; to shut.
请你轻轻地掩上门。
Please close the door gently.
To catch or trap something (e.g., a hand or foot) when a door, window, or cabinet closes unexpectedly.
他不小心，被门掩了脚。
He was careless and got his foot caught by the door.
To ambush or launch a surprise attack, often taking advantage of an opponent's unpreparedness.
他们利用夜色掩袭了敌人的营地。
They used the cover of night to launch a surprise attack on the enemy's camp.
Common Words and Phrases with 掩
1
To screen, shelter, or cover something.
厚厚的云层掩蔽了山顶，使得我们无法看清它的全貌。
Thick clouds obscured the mountain peak, making it impossible for us to see its full view.
2
To close or shut; to conceal or hide.
晚上睡觉前，请务必掩闭好所有门窗。
Before going to bed at night, please make sure to close all doors and windows securely.
3
Plugging one's ears while stealing a bell; it means to deceive oneself, foolishly believing that if one doesn't perceive something, others won't know about it.
面对市场变化，如果一家公司只顾眼前利益，对潜在风险视而不见，这种掩耳盗铃的做法最终会害了自己。
When faced with market changes, if a company only focuses on immediate profits and turns a blind eye to potential risks, this kind of self-deception, like burying one's head in the sand, will ultimately harm itself.
4
5
To cover or conceal something, often to hide facts or misdeeds.
厚厚的积雪掩盖了地上的小径。
The thick snow covered up the path on the ground.
6
A covered trench or dugout, a narrow, deep military defensive position providing protection from bullets and fragments.
士兵们在演习中迅速挖掘了掩壕，以躲避模拟的火力攻击。
Soldiers quickly dug foxholes during the exercise to take cover from simulated gunfire.
7
To provide cover, screen, or shield for someone or something, often for protection or to facilitate an action, such as a retreat.
在雨中，他用外套掩护着小狗，让它免受淋湿。
In the rain, he used his jacket to shield the puppy from getting wet.
8
9
To bury; to inter; to cover with earth.
园丁把种子掩埋在土里，等待它们发芽。
The gardener buried the seeds in the soil, waiting for them to sprout.
10
to weep with a hand covering the face
她听到这个不幸的消息，不禁掩泣起来
Upon hearing the unfortunate news, she couldn't help but cover her face and weep.
11
To deceive the public or hide the truth with a false appearance.
他假装在图书馆看书，其实是在掩人耳目，偷偷玩手机。
He pretended to read in the library, but in fact, he was just pulling the wool over people's eyes, secretly playing on his phone.
12
to launch a surprise attack; to ambush and kill
当对手放松警惕时，他们趁机从背后发起掩杀，取得了决定性的优势。
When the opponents relaxed their guard, they seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack from behind, gaining a decisive advantage.
13
To cover up or conceal something, often to hide one's true feelings or intentions.
他试图用一个假装的笑容来掩饰自己的紧张。
He tried to conceal his nervousness with a feigned smile.
14
a military fortification or structure providing cover and concealment for personnel, weapons, or vehicles.
这座旧掩体如今已成为历史遗迹，供游客参观。
This old bunker has now become a historical site, open for tourists.
15
To launch a surprise attack; to make a sneak attack.
夜晚，猎豹掩袭了羚羊群，成功捕捉到猎物。
At night, the cheetah ambushed the antelope herd and successfully caught its prey.
More words with 掩
- zhē遮yǎn掩To cover up or conceal.
- yǎn掩miàn面cover one's face, hide one's face
- yǎn掩yìng映hidden, shaded
- yǎn掩shàng上cover, close
- dá打yǎn掩hù护provide cover, cover for
- yǎn掩bì弊Cover up malpractices, Conceal abuses
- yǎn掩jī击ambush, surprise attack
- yǎn掩zhù住cover, hide
- nán难yǎn掩difficult to conceal, hard to hide
- yǎn掩hù护xià下Under cover, Under protection
- yǎn掩yìng映zài在hidden among, nestled in
- lái来yǎn掩gài盖to cover up, to hide
- yǎn掩gài盖de得covered, concealed
- yǎn掩jīn襟ér儿overlapping front (of a garment), front flap (of a garment)
- lái来yǎn掩shì饰to conceal, to hide
- yǎn掩gài盖bú不zhù住cannot hide, cannot cover up
- guī归shī师wù勿yǎn掩Do not block a retreating army, Allow a retreating army to pass
Idioms with 掩
- yǎn掩bí鼻ér而guò过to pass by holding one's nose
- yǎn掩mù目bǔ捕què雀deceive oneself; ignore obvious facts
- yǎn掩qí其wú无bèi备attack when unprepared
- dōng东zhē遮xī西yǎn掩cover up the truth
- shì饰fēi非yǎn掩guò过gloss over one's faults
- shuǐ水lái来tǔ土yǎn掩deal with problems as they arise
- xiá瑕bù不yǎn掩yú瑜flaws do not obscure virtues
- xiá瑕bù不yǎn掩yù玉minor flaws do not obscure major merits
- yú瑜bù不yǎn掩xiá瑕virtues cannot hide flaws
- zhē遮zhē遮yǎn掩yǎn掩to cover up and hide
- yǎn掩bí鼻tōu偷xiāng香deceive oneself by ignoring truth
- yǎn掩è恶yáng扬měi美conceal faults, publicize good
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Open the tool →Questions about 掩
What does 掩 mean in Chinese?
掩 (yǎn) means “To cover, conceal, or hide” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 掩?
掩 is pronounced yǎn in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 掩 have?
掩 has 11 strokes.
How do you write 掩?
掩 is written in 11 strokes, starting from the radical 扌. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 掩?
The radical of 掩 is 扌, and 掩 is a phono-semantic compound.