暗地里 àndìlǐ secretly
secretly; inwardly; on the sly
How to remember 暗地里: 暗 dark + 地 ground + 里 in = secretly.
Characters
How it is used
- 'Secretly, inwardly, on the quiet' - 暗地里使坏 (àndìlǐ shǐhuài) to make mischief behind someone's back.
- Very close to 暗中; 暗地里 is more colloquial and often tinged with sneaky/underhanded doings.
- Contrasts with 当面 (dāngmiàn, to one's face).