Chinese word

暗中

Pronunciation

Pinyinàn zhōng

Meaning

  • adverbsecretly

Example

她在暗中准备生日派对。tā zài àn zhōng zhǔn bèi shēng rì pài duì

She is secretly preparing a birthday party.

Illustration for 暗中 (secretly)

More examples

他在暗中观察对手的反应。tā zài àn zhōng guān chá duì shǒu de fǎn yìng

He is secretly observing his opponent's reaction.

Core concept

An action moves forward in a covered space, beyond other people's notice.

Common phrases

  • 暗中观察àn zhōng guān chá

    secretly observe

  • 暗中支持àn zhōng zhī chí

    secretly support

Similar words

悄悄qiāo qiāo: Quietly, making no sound and using no audible speech.
偷偷tōu tōu: Secretly, while taking care not to let others know what is happening.
背地里bèi dì lǐ: Carried out behind the scenes, away from public attention or open activity.
不声不响bù shēng bù xiǎng: Carried out quietly and without fuss, with no public announcement.

Definition in Chinese

用于副词，表示在别人不注意或不知情时悄悄进行，通常带有隐藏或不公开的含义。yòng yú fù cí biǎo shì zài bié rén bú zhù yì huò bù zhī qíng shí qiāo qiāo jìn xíng tōng cháng dài yǒu yǐn cáng huò bù gōng kāi de hán yì

Word origin

暗中 (ànzhōng, "in the dark") combines 暗 (àn, "dark") + 中 (zhōng, "inside"), extending the image of being inside darkness to an action kept out of public notice.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, this adverb often gives a sentence a formal or written tone, especially when describing support, planning, or work done out of public view.

Other meanings

  • behind the scenesadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word