Chinese word

玄机

Pronunciation

Pinyinxuán jī

Meaning

  • nounmystery

Example

这件事里有玄机，不用着急解释。zhè jiàn shì lǐ yǒu xuán jī bú yòng zháo jí jiě shì

There is a mystery to this matter, so there is no need to explain it right away.

Illustration for 玄机 (mystery)

More examples

这道题里暗藏着玄机，需要认真分析。zhè dào tí lǐ àn cáng zhe xuán jī xū yào rèn zhēn fēn xī

This problem hides a mystery and needs careful analysis.

Core concept

A deeper pattern hidden inside an event, explanation, or arrangement that helps its outcome make sense.

Common phrases

  • 暗藏玄机àn cáng xuán jī

    hide a mystery

  • 看出玄机kàn chū xuán jī

    see the hidden meaning

  • 揭开玄机jiē kāi xuán jī

    uncover the mystery

Similar words

关键guān jiàn: The important point that determines the success, failure, or result of something.
秘密mì mì: Information or a matter that is not openly shared or known to others.
内情nèi qíng: The internal circumstances of an organization or event, not known outside it.
要点yào diǎn: The especially important point in a discussion or matter.

Definition in Chinese

表示事物中隐含的、难以直观察觉却往往牵动结局的奥秘或要点。biǎo shì shì wù zhōng yǐn hán de nán yǐ zhí guān chá jué què wáng wǎng qiān dòng jié jú de ào mì huò yào diǎn

Word origin

玄机 (xuánjī, "deep mystery") is formed from 玄 (xuán, "profound and hard to see") and 机 (jī, "crucial mechanism"), a combination that points to a subtle key operating beneath the surface.

Usage tips

  • The word shows that a situation has more than meets the eye without declaring it supernatural, so it works for ordinary plans and human decisions as well as unusual events.

Other meanings

  • secretnoun
  • deeper meaningnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word