Meaning and Usage
The verb 掩饰 (yǎn shì) means "to cover up" or "to conceal," often referring to hiding feelings, mistakes, or facts. It implies an intentional effort to prevent others from noticing something undesirable.
Common Contexts
It is frequently used in contexts where someone tries to hide emotions (like nervousness or pain), mistakes, or faults. For example, 掩饰紧张 (cover up nervousness) or 掩饰错误 (cover up mistakes).
Collocations and Patterns
- 掩饰错误: to cover up mistakes, often with a negative connotation implying dishonesty.
- 掩饰情绪: to hide emotions, showing a deliberate control over one's feelings.
- 用笑容掩饰: to cover up with a smile, indicating masking true feelings.
Nuances
掩饰 often carries a slightly negative or defensive tone, suggesting the person is hiding something that might be judged or cause trouble if revealed. It differs from simply "hiding" (隐藏 yǐncáng) because 掩饰 often involves a deliberate act of disguising or masking.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse 掩饰 with 掩盖 (yǎn gài), which means "to cover" or "to conceal" but is more physical or general. 掩饰 focuses more on disguising or masking, especially abstract things like feelings or faults.