HSK · Level 62
105 words
Chinese word
幕后
Pronunciation
Pinyinmù hòu
Meaning
- nounbehind the scenes
Example
很多决定都是在幕后做出的。hěn duō jué dìng dū shì zài mù hòu zuò chū de
Many decisions are made behind the scenes.
More examples
幕后黑手往往隐藏在表面之下。mù hòu hēi shǒu wáng wǎng yǐn cáng zài biǎo miàn zhī xià
The hidden hand behind the scenes is often hidden beneath the surface.
Core concept
The unseen side of an event where preparation, decisions, and control take shape away from the audience.
Common phrases
幕后黑手mù hòu hēi shǒu
hidden hand behind the scenes
幕后推手mù hòu tuī shǒu
behind-the-scenes operator
幕后工作人员mù hòu gōng zuò rén yuán
backstage personnel
Similar words
后台hòu tái: The backstage people and connections that support a stage or organization and affect its work.
黑手hēi shǒu: A secret person or group that controls people or events through crafty and improper schemes.
Definition in Chinese
原指舞台、帐篷等的帷幕后方之处，引申为不在公众面前进行活动或准备的场所或过程。yuán zhǐ wǔ tái zhàng péng děng de wéi mù hòu fāng zhī chù yǐn shēn wèi bú zài gōng zhòng miàn qián jìn xíng huó dòng huò zhǔn bèi de cháng suǒ huò guò chéng
Word origin
The compound 幕 (mù, "curtain") + 后 (hòu, "behind") turns a physical location behind a curtain into a general term for activity outside public view.
Usage tips
- English often uses "backstage" mainly for a place, while this word can also describe people whose decisions shape an event without appearing publicly.
Other meanings
- backstagenoun
Opposites
- 台前tái qiánfront of the stagenoun
- 公开场合gōng kāi chǎng hépublic settingnoun
Related words
- 幕后黑手mù hòu hēi shǒuhidden hand behind the scenesnoun
- 幕后力量mù hòu lì liàngbehind-the-scenes powernoun