暗示
ànshì
The English word 'hint' can be translated into Chinese as 暗示 (ànshì).
暗示 specifically refers to a hint given implicitly or indirectly. To express the idea of giving a hint to someone, you typically use the structure 给 [person] 暗示.
Meaning: clue (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 暗示 is composed of 暗, meaning dark or hidden and 示, meaning to show or indicate. Literally, it means 'to show something hiddenly'.
Which one should you use?
While 暗示 is a general term for a hint or suggestion, the related form 暗指 specifically means to allude to or insinuate something, often with a more pointed or critical connotation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 暗示 can function as both a noun (a hint) and a verb (to hint or suggest) depending on the context of the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
ànshì
Did you know?
- The character 示 in 暗示 is an ancient pictograph representing an altar with incense, showing that the original meaning of 'indicating' or 'showing' had a spiritual or divine origin.
- In Chinese social etiquette, giving a direct 'hint' is often considered more polite than a direct request, to help the other person 'save face'.
- There is a psychological term called 心理暗示 which refers to 'autosuggestion' or 'placebo effect', using the word for 'hint' to describe how the mind tricks itself.
Examples in context
- 我给他一个提示来解答那个难题。I gave him a hint to solve that difficult problem.
- 我们需要更多的线索来找到凶手。We need more hints to find the murderer.
- 他没有给我任何暗示。Tā méiyǒu gěi wǒ rènhé ànshì.He didn't give me any hint.
- 我觉得这是一种暗示。Wǒ juéde zhè shì yī zhǒng ànshì.I think this is a hint.
- 你能给我一点暗示吗？Nǐ néng gěi wǒ yīdiǎn ànshì ma?Can you give me a little hint?
Example conversation
Two friends are playing a guessing game.
- 浩然 Haoran我猜不出来，你能给我暗示吗？Wǒ cāi bù chūlái, nǐ néng gěi wǒ ànshì ma?I can't guess it, can you give me a hint?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen不行，我不能给你暗示。Bùxíng, wǒ bùnéng gěi nǐ ànshì.No, I can't give you a hint.
- 浩然 Haoran晓雯，你就给我一个暗示吧。Xiǎowén, nǐ jiù gěi wǒ yīgè ànshì ba.Xiaowen, please just give me one hint.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好吧，那我就给你一个暗示。Hǎo ba, nà wǒ jiù gěi nǐ yīgè ànshì.Alright, then I'll give you one hint.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hint” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
