Chinese word

隐患

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǐn huàn

Meaning

  • nounhidden danger

Example

这个系统有隐患，可能导致出错。zhè ge xì tǒng yǒu yǐn huàn kě néng dǎo zhì chū cuò

This system contains a hidden danger that may cause errors.

Illustration for 隐患 (hidden danger)

More examples

消防检查中发现了多处隐患，需要立即整改。xiāo fáng jiǎn chá zhōng fā xiàn le duō chù yǐn huàn xū yào lì jí zhéng gǎi

The fire inspection found several hidden dangers that need to be corrected immediately.

Core concept

A concealed flaw or problem that may surface later and cause trouble or damage.

Common phrases

  • 安全隐患ān quán yǐn huàn

    safety hazard

  • 排查隐患pái chá yǐn huàn

    inspect for hidden hazards

  • 消除隐患xiāo chú yǐn huàn

    eliminate hidden hazards

Similar words

问题wèn tí: A matter or difficulty that needs to be dealt with or solved.
毛病máo bìng: A fault or malfunction showing that an object or part of the body is not working properly.
风险fēng xiǎn: The possibility and potential seriousness of a bad event or outcome.
危险wēi xiǎn: A condition or factor that directly threatens safety and may cause injury or damage.

Definition in Chinese

指隐藏着、尚未显现但可能在将来造成损害或麻烦的问题或缺陷。zhǐ yǐn cáng zhe shàng wèi xiǎn xiàn dàn kě néng zài jiāng lái zào chéng sǔn hài huò má fán de wèn tí huò quē xiàn

Word origin

隐 (yǐn, "hidden") + 患 (huàn, "trouble or affliction") presents trouble as something concealed, giving the noun its sense of a latent problem.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, this noun is common in safety and workplace discussions and sounds more formal than a general word for an ordinary problem.

Other meanings

  • potential malfunctionnoun
  • latent defectnoun

Opposites

  • 显性问题xiǎn xìng wèn tíovert problemnoun
  • 明显问题míng xiǎn wèn tíobvious problemnoun

Related words

  • 隐患排查yǐn huàn pái cháhidden-hazard inspectionnoun
  • 隐患整改yǐn huàn zhéng gǎihidden-hazard remediationnoun

Word lists with this word