藏 cáng to hide
to hide; to conceal; to store; to collect
How to remember 藏: 艹 grass + 戈 dagger + 臣 minister = to hide. Crawling through the grass, the kid looks for the perfect spot to hide his plastic dagger from the visiting minister.
Component breakdown
藏 = 艹 grass + 臧
- 艹 grass
- 臧
- 戈 dagger
- 臣 minister
Crawling through the grass, the kid looks for the perfect spot to hide his plastic dagger from the visiting minister.
How it is used
- 藏 is polyphonic: cáng is the verb 'to hide/store' used here, while zàng is a noun/proper-noun reading, as in 西藏 (Xīzàng) Tibet and 宝藏 (bǎozàng) 'treasure' (a stored valuable, not the act of hiding).
- 收藏 shōucáng (to collect, of art or stamps) and 隐藏 yǐncáng (to conceal, more abstract - hidden feelings, hidden risks) are the two core verbs.
- 捉迷藏 zhuōmícáng is the everyday word for the game 'hide-and-seek,' spoken and child-friendly.
- 埋藏 máicáng (to bury, literally or figuratively - buried memories) and 蕴藏 yùncáng (to hold in store, of natural resources or potential) are more literary.
Words with 藏
- 收藏shōucángto collectHSK 6
- 隐藏yǐncángto hideHSK 6
- 埋藏máicángto buryHSK 8
- 宝藏bǎozàngprecious mineral depositsHSK 8
- 捉迷藏zhuōmícángto play hide-and-seekHSK 8
- 珍藏zhēncánga collection of rare and valuable itemsHSK 9
- 矿藏kuàngcángmineral resourcesHSK 9
- 蕴藏yùncángto hold in storeHSK 9
- 藏匿cángnìto cover upHSK 9
- 藏品cángpǐnmuseum pieceHSK 9
- 藏身cángshēnto hideHSK 9
- 贮藏zhùcángto store upHSK 9
Example sentences
- 这枚钻戒值得收藏。 Zhè méi zuànjiè zhíde shōucáng.This diamond ring is worth collecting.