隱

A phono-semantic compound:

阜 (hill / mound) — semantic component, suggests terrain, concealment behind landscape;

㥯 — phonetic component, gives the sound 은 (eun) and carries a meaning related to carefulness or restraint.

Original image is "something concealed behind a hill" that is, hidden from sight.

Thus the primary meaning became:

- to hide;

- to conceal;

- to withdraw from public life.

은밀 (隱密) — secret; confidential

은신 (隱身) — conceal oneself

은거 (隱居) — retirement; seclusion

은폐 (隱蔽) — concealment

In Korean historical usage 隱 was sometimes used to represent the grammatical particle ~은 in early Hanja-based writing.

隱 expresses:

- physical concealment;

- withdrawal from society;

- hidden virtue;

- inner, unexpressed meaning.

It often carries philosophical depth: "true value may be hidden from view."

In Confucian and Daoist contexts, 隱 often describes "a wise person choosing seclusion over public life."

Related characters:

隱 — concealed; withdrawn

藏 — hidden / stored

潛 — secretly submerged

秘 — secret information

密 — confidential / tightly sealed

陰 — hidden in shadow

幽 — secluded / deep

匿 — deliberately concealed