隐情
yǐn qíng · HSK 7
sth one wishes to keep secret
🔒 隐 (hidden, conceal) + 情 (feeling, circumstance) = a hidden circumstance one keeps secret
隐 means to conceal or hide; 情 means feeling or situation. Together: a private matter or motive someone would rather keep covered up, hence ulterior motive or a subject best avoided.
情 — heart radical 忄 + 青 (qīng)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The heart radical 忄 signals that the meaning involves feelings or inner states, while 青 supplies the sound 'qing'. Originally referring to genuine feelings or emotion arising from the heart, 情 expanded to cover sentiment, affection, and circumstances or situations more broadly.