Correct
掩盖 vs 遮盖
/ yǎngài vs zhēgài /
Strokes
Definition
Both 掩盖 (yǎngài) and 遮盖 (zhēgài) mean "to cover," but they are used in different contexts with different nuances. Here’s how to distinguish them:
1. 掩盖 (yǎngài) – "To Cover Up" (Often Negative, Abstract)
Usage:
Abstract Covering (Hiding Truth, Feelings, Mistakes)
- Often used for hiding facts, emotions, or mistakes (implies deception).
- Negative connotation (covering up something bad).
Examples:
- 他试图掩盖自己的错误。 (Tā shìtú yǎngài zìjǐ de cuòwù.)
→ "He tried to cover up his mistakes." (Hiding the truth.) - 谎言无法掩盖真相。 (Huǎngyán wúfǎ yǎngài zhēnxiàng.)
→ "Lies cannot cover up the truth."
Physical Covering (Less Common, Neutral)
- Can also mean physically covering something (but less common than 遮盖).
Examples:
- 大雪掩盖了道路。 (Dàxuě yǎngài le dàolù.)
→ "Heavy snow covered the road." (Neutral, but implies obstruction.)
Key Points:
✔ Mostly abstract (hiding truth, emotions, mistakes).
✔ Negative tone (implies deception or concealment).
✔ Rarely used for neutral physical covering.
2. 遮盖 (zhēgài) – "To Cover" (Neutral, Physical or Protective)
Usage:
Physical Covering (Objects, Surfaces, Protection)
- Used for physically covering objects (no negative meaning).
- Often implies protection or concealment from view.
Examples:
- 她用布遮盖了家具。 (Tā yòng bù zhēgài le jiājù.)
→ "She covered the furniture with cloth." (Protecting it.) - 乌云遮盖了太阳。 (Wūyún zhēgài le tàiyáng.)
→ "Dark clouds covered the sun." (Blocking light.)
Abstract Covering (Rare, Neutral)
- Can sometimes mean hiding emotions or facts, but no negative connotation.
Examples:
- 他努力遮盖自己的悲伤。 (Tā nǔlì zhēgài zìjǐ de bēishāng.)
→ "He tried to cover up his sadness." (Neutral, not deceptive.)
Key Points:
✔ Mostly physical (covering objects, surfaces).
✔ Neutral tone (no deception implied).
✔ Rarely used for abstract hiding (unlike 掩盖).
3. Key Differences
| Feature | 掩盖 (yǎngài) | 遮盖 (zhēgài) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Meaning | Cover up (hide truth) | Cover (physically) |
| Connotation | Negative (deception) | Neutral (protection) |
| Common Usage | Hiding mistakes, lies | Covering objects, surfaces |
| Example (Abstract) | "He covered up the scandal." | "She covered her sadness." |
| Example (Physical) | "Snow covered the road." (Rare) | "She covered the table with a cloth." |
Final Summary
Use 掩盖 (yǎngài) for:
✔ Hiding truth, mistakes, emotions (negative tone).
✔ Rarely for physical covering (e.g., snow covering roads).
Use 遮盖 (zhēgài) for:
✔ Physically covering objects (neutral tone).
✔ Rarely for abstract hiding (no negative meaning).
Example
Both 掩盖 and 遮盖 are Verbs, when used with concrete things, they both mean "to cover up":
1
Xīn
新
cháng
长
chūlái
出来
de
的
piānpiān
片片
lǜ
绿
cǎo
草
,
yǎngài
掩盖
(
zhēgài
遮盖
)
le
了
guāngtūtū
光秃秃
de
的
shānqiū
山丘
。
The bare hills are covered with the new grass.
2
Bèi
被
dàxuě
大雪
yǎngài
掩盖
(
zhēgài
遮盖
)
de
的
dàdì
大地
biànchéng
变成
le
了
yínsè
银色
de
的
shìjiè
世界
。
The snowcovered land became white completely.
When 掩盖 and 遮盖 are used with abstract things, they mean"to hide, to conceal".
In examples ① ② of 1 and ③ ④ of 2, the two words are interchangeable, but 掩盖 sounds more forceful.
3
Huǎngyán
谎言
yǎngài
掩盖
(
zhēgài
遮盖
)
bù
不
le
了
shìshí
事实
。
Lies cannot hide the truth.
4
Zhè
这
shì
事
nǐ
你
bùyào
不要
zài
再
yǎngài
掩盖
(
zhēgài
遮盖
)
xiàqù
下去
le
了
,
kuài
快
gàosù
告诉
tā
他
bā
吧
!
Dont keep it secret any longer.It's time to tell him.
When applied to very concrete things, 遮盖 is used.
In example ⑤ of 3 遮盖 cannot be replaced by 掩盖 because 自行车 is a concrete thing, while 掩盖 is usually applied to abstract things.
5
Xiàyǔ
下雨
le
了
,
kuài
快
ná
拿
sùliàobù
塑料布
bǎ
把
zìxíngchē
自行车
zhēgài
遮盖
yī
一
xià
下
。
It s raining, take a piece of plastic cloth to cover the bike right away.
Besides, when 遮盖 is used as an intransitive verb with the meaning of hiding, it can be reduplicated into 遮遮盖盖 while 掩盖 cannot.
6
Tā
他
zhège
这个
rén
人
zuòshì
做事
zǒng
总
ài
爱
zhē
遮
zhēgài
遮盖
gài
盖
,
sìhū
似乎
zài
在
zuò
做
shénme
什么
jiànbudérén
见不得人
de
的
shìqing
事情
。
He always handle things overtly, as if he did something not respectable.
7
Dìdi
弟弟
mò
没
shōushè
收拾
cǎibǐ
彩笔
,
pà
怕
māma
妈妈
pīpíng
批评
,
jiù
就
yòng
用
shū
书
zhē
遮
zhēgài
遮盖
gài
盖
zàng
藏
qǐlai
起来
。
The younger brother didn't pack up the colored pens, and for fear of his mother's criticism, he covered it with a book.
Mistake
❌ Wrong:
他用布掩盖了桌子。 (Use 遮盖 for physical covering.)
✅ Correct:
他用布遮盖了桌子。 (Tā yòng bù zhēgài le zhuōzi.)→ "He covered the table with cloth."
❌ Wrong:
她遮盖了自己的错误。 (Use 掩盖 for hiding mistakes.)
✅ Better:
她掩盖了自己的错误。 (Tā yǎngài le zìjǐ de cuòwù.)→ "She covered up her mistakes." (Deceptive tone.)
Exercise
Choose 掩盖 or 遮盖:
- 谎言不能永远____真相。 (掩盖 – hiding truth)
- 下雨了，快用塑料布____汽车！ (遮盖 – physical covering)
- 他笑着____了自己的痛苦。 (掩盖/遮盖 – both possible, but 掩盖 is more common for emotions.)
Translate:
- "The government tried to cover up the scandal." → 政府试图____丑闻。 (掩盖)
- "She covered the food to keep it warm." → 她____食物以保温。 (遮盖)