Chinese word

埋没

Pronunciation

Pinyinmái mò

Meaning

  • verbbe buried

Example

她的才华被埋没在日常琐事里。tā de cái huá bèi mái mò zài rì cháng suǒ shì lǐ

Her talent is buried in everyday chores.

Illustration for 埋没 (be buried)

More examples

很多好主意在会议上被埋没，没有得到讨论。hěn duō hǎo zhǔ yì zài huì yì shàng bèi mái mò méi yǒu dé dào tǎo lùn

Many good ideas were buried in the meeting and were not discussed.

Core concept

Something is covered or pressed below the surface, leaving a person, object, work, or idea present but hidden from view or notice.

Common phrases

  • 把才华埋没在琐事中bǎ cái huá mái mò zài suǒ shì zhōng

    bury one's talent in trivial matters

  • 被现实所埋没bèi xiàn shí suǒ mái mò

    be buried by reality

  • 在公众记忆中被埋没zài gōng zhòng jì yì zhōng bèi mái mò

    be buried in public memory

Similar words

湮没yān mò: Gradually fade from view or memory as time or neglect makes something less noticeable.
淹没yān mò: Be completely covered by water or a large amount of something and disappear from sight.
掩盖yǎn gài: Cover something from the outside so that it cannot be seen.
埋藏mái cáng: Bury something in the ground to keep it hidden.

Definition in Chinese

把某物压在下面使不显露；引申为人才、作品或意见因条件不利而未被发现或重视bǎ mǒu wù yā zài xià miàn shǐ bù xiǎn lù yǐn shēn wéi rén cái zuò pǐn huò yì jiàn yīn tiáo jiàn bú lì ér wèi bèi fā xiàn huò zhòng shì

Word origin

埋 (mái, "bury") + 没 (mò, "sink") creates the image of something covered and lowered out of sight, which extends from physical concealment to unnoticed people, works, and ideas.

Usage tips

  • In English, "buried" can suggest being very busy, but this Chinese word instead focuses on a person, work, or idea being hidden or overlooked.

Other meanings

  • be overlookedverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 埋没成本mái mò chéng běnsunk costnoun

Word lists with this word