Chinese word

埋伏

Pronunciation

Pinyinmái fú

Meaning

  • verbambush

Example

昨天我在街上被埋伏了。zuó tiān wǒ zài jiē shàng bèi mái fú le

I was ambushed on the street yesterday.

Illustration for 埋伏 (ambush)

More examples

士兵在树林里埋伏，等待补给队经过。shì bīng zài shù lín lǐ mái fú děng dài bú jǐ duì jīng guò

The soldiers lay in ambush in the woods, waiting for the supply team to pass.

Core concept

It is the act of staying hidden until the right moment to strike a target.

Common phrases

  • 在路边埋伏zài lù biān mái fú

    lie in ambush by the roadside

  • 埋伏敌人mái fú dí rén

    ambush the enemy

  • 被埋伏bèi mái fú

    be ambushed

Similar words

伏击fú jī: Launch a sudden attack on an opponent from a hidden position.
潜伏qián fú: Hide quietly to avoid notice while waiting for the right chance to act.

Definition in Chinese

在隐蔽处潜伏，等待时机对目标突然发动攻击。zài yǐn bì chù qián fú děng dài shí jī duì mù biāo tū rán fā dòng gōng jī

Word origin

埋伏 (máifú, "ambush") combines 埋 (mái, "bury") with 伏 (fú, "lie hidden"), evoking people covered or concealed while waiting for an opening.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, this verb has a deliberate, serious tone, so it suits a planned trap more than an ordinary unexpected event.

Opposites

  • 正面交锋zhèng miàn jiāo fēngconfront head-onverb

Related words

  • 埋伏者mái fú zhěambushernoun
  • 埋伏点mái fú diǎnambush sitenoun

Word lists with this word