蛰伏 (zhéfú): to hibernate

Meanings

1 to hibernate
2 to lie dormant
3 to live in seclusion
4 to lie low

Characters

蛰

zhé

to hibernate; insects in dormancy

伏

fú

to crouch; lie hidden

Examples

熊在冬天蛰伏。

Xióng zài dōngtiān zhéfú.

Bears hibernate in winter.

他蛰伏多年，等待东山再起。

Tā zhéfú duō nián, děngdài dōngshān zàiqǐ.

He lay low for years, waiting to make a comeback.

Tips

memory

蛰 (insect lying still) plus 伏 (to crouch / lie face-down) = an insect curled up underground. The literal hibernation image extends naturally to a person who keeps a low profile and waits.

culture

蛰 is the same character as in 惊蛰 (jīngzhé), the solar term 'Awakening of Insects' around March 5–6 — when the spring thunder is said to rouse hibernating creatures.