noun HSK 5
Traditional 隱私
yǐn
privacy · private matters · personal secrets

Meaning

隐私 refers to one's private affairs, personal information, or matters that one wishes to keep secret or undisclosed. It encompasses both the concept of privacy as a right and the actual private details of someone's life that are not meant for public knowledge.

Usage

Commonly used in contexts involving personal boundaries, data protection, and legal rights. Often appears in phrases like 保护隐私 (protect privacy) or 侵犯隐私 (violate privacy). This term has become increasingly important in modern Chinese discourse around internet security and personal data protection.

Examples

  1. 01
    我们必须尊重他人的隐私
    Wǒmen bìxū zūnzhòng tārén de yǐnsī.
    We must respect other people's privacy.
  2. 02
    这个应用程序会收集用户的隐私信息。
    Zhège yìngyòng chéngxù huì shōují yònghù de yǐnsī xìnxī.
    This app collects users' private information.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 保护隐私
    bǎo yǐn
    to protect privacy
  • 侵犯隐私
    qīn fàn yǐn
    to violate privacy
  • 尊重隐私
    zūn zhòng yǐn
    to respect privacy
  • 隐私
    yǐn quán
    right to privacy

Antonyms

Origin

The compound combines 隐 (hidden/concealed) with 私 (private/personal), literally meaning 'hidden private matters.' This term became more prominent in modern Chinese as Western concepts of privacy rights entered Chinese legal and social discourse.

Related