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掩

yǎn
verb #16,395

Meanings

  1. 1 to cover up
  2. 2 to conceal
  3. 3 to close (a door)
  4. 4 to launch a surprise attack (literary)

Examples

她用手掩住了嘴巴。
Tā yòng shǒu yǎnzhù le zuǐba.
She covered her mouth with her hand.
他掩上门，悄悄地走了。
Tā yǎnshàng mén, qiāoqiāo de zǒu le.
He closed the door gently and left quietly.

Tips

usage
掩 implies a gentle or partial action: 掩门 is to close a door softly (not slam), 掩面 is to cover one's face. For forceful covering, use 盖 (gài) instead.
memory
掩耳盗铃 (yǎn ěr dào líng) — 'cover ears while stealing a bell' — is a famous idiom meaning to deceive oneself. A great way to remember 掩 = cover/conceal.

Stroke Order

掩 yǎn