埋伏

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máifú: 埋伏 - Ambush, Lie in Wait, Hidden Danger

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 埋伏, maifu, maifu meaning, what does maifu mean, Chinese ambush, lie in wait Chinese, hidden danger Chinese, foreshadowing Chinese, 埋伏 vs 潜伏, Chinese military terms, Sun Tzu Art of War
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 埋伏 (máifú), a versatile Chinese word that literally translates to “ambush” or “to lie in wait.” Rooted in ancient military strategy, this term is essential for understanding not only historical texts and action movies but also modern, figurative concepts like hidden problems in a project or literary foreshadowing (埋下伏笔). This guide breaks down its characters, cultural significance, and practical usage with clear examples, helping you master its nuances and avoid common mistakes.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): máifú
  • Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: To hide in a secret place with the intent to launch a surprise attack; an ambush.
  • In a Nutshell: Imagine soldiers hiding in the bushes, waiting for an enemy convoy to pass. That's the core image of `埋伏`. It's a planned, secret wait with a hostile or strategic intent. This concept extends from the battlefield to any situation where one “lies in wait” to surprise another, whether it's a predator hunting prey, a police unit waiting for a suspect, or even a figurative “trap” laid in a business negotiation. The key elements are hiding and the intent to act.

Character Breakdown

  • 埋 (mái): To bury or to cover up. The left-side radical is `土 (tǔ)`, meaning “earth” or “soil.” The right side provides the sound. You can think of this character as the action of burying something under the earth, effectively hiding it from view.
  • 伏 (fú): To crouch down, to lie low, or to prostrate. The radical `人 (rén)` on the left means “person.” The right side `犬 (quǎn)` means “dog.” Together, they paint a vivid picture of a person crouching down low, like a hunting dog staying close to the ground.
  • These two characters combine perfectly: to bury/hide oneself (埋) by crouching down low (伏). This creates the complete and powerful image of preparing for an ambush.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The Art of War: The concept of `埋伏` is a cornerstone of Chinese strategic thinking, famously immortalized in Sun Tzu's “The Art of War” (《孙子兵法》, Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ). Deception, patience, and using the terrain to one's advantage to overcome a stronger enemy are central themes, and `埋伏` is the ultimate expression of these principles. It represents intelligence over brute force.
  • Comparison to “Ambush”: In a literal military or police context, `埋伏` is almost identical to the English word “ambush.” The cultural nuance, however, lies in its broader figurative application. While in English we might speak of a “ticking time bomb” for a hidden problem, Chinese uses `埋伏` to describe this sense of a latent threat. For example, a poorly written clause in a contract can be a `埋伏`.
  • Foreshadowing (埋下伏笔): The most significant cultural extension is the set phrase `埋下伏笔 (mái xià fúbǐ)`, which literally means “to bury a hidden pen stroke.” This is the standard term for literary or cinematic foreshadowing. It reflects a strategic mindset applied to storytelling, where the author, like a general, plants clues early on that will have a major impact later. This highlights a cultural appreciation for intricate planning and delayed gratification, both in strategy and in art.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Literal Use (Military, Police, History): `埋伏` is commonly used in news reports, historical accounts, movies, and TV shows to describe military or police operations.
  • Figurative Use (Hidden Problems): In business and daily life, it's used to describe a hidden trap, risk, or unresolved issue that could cause trouble later.
    • “This project plan has a hidden problem.” → 这个项目计划里有埋伏。
  • Literary/Film Analysis: The phrase `埋下伏笔 (mái xià fúbǐ)` is indispensable for anyone discussing books, movies, or TV shows. It's the go-to term for “foreshadowing.”
  • Gaming and Informal Use: In video games, players will talk about setting a `埋伏` for their opponents. It can also be used humorously among friends, e.g., planning a surprise party.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 敌军在森林里设下了埋伏。
    • Pinyin: Díjūn zài sēnlín lǐ shèxià le máifú.
    • English: The enemy forces set up an ambush in the forest.
    • Analysis: A classic, literal use of `埋伏` as a noun. `设下 (shèxià)` means “to set up.”
  • Example 2:
    • 我们必须在这里埋伏，等待目标的出现。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zài zhèlǐ máifú, děngdài mùbiāo de chūxiàn.
    • English: We must lie in wait here and await the appearance of the target.
    • Analysis: Here, `埋伏` is used as a verb, meaning “to lie in wait” or “to ambush.”
  • Example 3:
    • 警察在银行外埋伏了一整夜，终于抓住了抢匪。
    • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zài yínháng wài máifú le yī zhěng yè, zhōngyú zhuāzhù le qiǎngfěi.
    • English: The police lay in ambush outside the bank for a whole night and finally caught the robbers.
    • Analysis: This shows a common modern context for a literal ambush: a police stakeout.
  • Example 4:
    • 狮子在草丛中埋伏，准备捕捉羚羊。
    • Pinyin: Shīzi zài cǎocóng zhōng máifú, zhǔnbèi bǔzhuō língyáng.
    • English: The lion lies in ambush in the tall grass, preparing to catch an antelope.
    • Analysis: The term is not limited to humans; it applies perfectly to predators in nature.
  • Example 5:
    • 这份合同看起来不错，但我担心里面有埋伏。
    • Pinyin: Zhè fèn hétóng kànqǐlái búcuò, dàn wǒ dānxīn lǐmiàn yǒu máifú.
    • English: This contract looks good, but I'm worried there's a hidden trap inside.
    • Analysis: A perfect example of the figurative use. The `埋伏` here is a hidden clause or a potential problem, not a literal group of soldiers.
  • Example 6:
    • 他看似平静的回答里，其实埋伏着对我的不满。
    • Pinyin: Tā kànsì píngjìng de huídá lǐ, qíshí máifú zhe duì wǒ de bùmǎn.
    • English: In his seemingly calm answer, there was actually hidden dissatisfaction with me.
    • Analysis: A sophisticated figurative use, describing a hidden emotion or intent.
  • Example 7:
    • 作者在第一章就为主角的命运埋下了伏笔。
    • Pinyin: Zuòzhě zài dì yī zhāng jiù wèi zhǔjué de mìngyùn mái xià le fúbǐ.
    • English: The author already foreshadowed the protagonist's fate in the first chapter.
    • Analysis: The most common set phrase `埋下伏笔` (mái xià fúbǐ), essential for literary discussion. Note that `埋伏` is split here.
  • Example 8:
    • 电影结尾揭示了开头那个不起眼的细节原来是一个重要的伏笔。
    • Pinyin: Diànyǐng jiéwěi jiēshì le kāitóu nàge bù qǐyǎn de xìjié yuánlái shì yí ge zhòngyào de fúbǐ.
    • English: The end of the movie revealed that the inconspicuous detail from the beginning was actually an important piece of foreshadowing.
    • Analysis: Using `伏笔 (fúbǐ)` on its own as a noun meaning “foreshadowing.”
  • Example 9:
    • 小心！转角后面可能有人在埋伏我们。
    • Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn! Zhuǎnjiǎo hòumiàn kěnéng yǒurén zài máifú wǒmen.
    • English: Be careful! There might be someone ambushing us around the corner.
    • Analysis: A common phrase you'd hear in an action movie or a video game.
  • Example 10:
    • 由于情报失误，整个小队都掉进了敌人的埋伏圈。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú qíngbào shīwù, zhěnggè xiǎoduì dōu diàojìn le dírén de máifúquān.
    • English: Due to an intelligence failure, the entire squad fell into the enemy's encirclement ambush.
    • Analysis: `埋伏圈 (máifúquān)` means “ambush circle” or “encirclement,” a specific military term.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • `埋伏 (máifú)` vs. `潜伏 (qiánfú)`: This is the most critical distinction.
    • `埋伏 (máifú)` implies hiding for a short-term, offensive purpose: to attack. The goal is the surprise attack itself.
    • `潜伏 (qiánfú)` implies hiding for a long-term, passive/information-gathering purpose: to infiltrate or spy. The goal is to remain undetected while observing or waiting for orders. A spy `潜伏` in a country; a squad of soldiers `埋伏` the enemy.
  • Not for General Hiding: A common mistake is to use `埋伏` for any kind of hiding. You would not use it for a child playing hide-and-seek. For that, you use `躲藏 (duǒcáng)` or `捉迷藏 (zhuōmícáng)`.
    • Incorrect: 我在房间里埋伏。 (Wǒ zài fángjiān lǐ máifú.) → This sounds like you're planning to attack someone who enters your room.
    • Correct: 我躲在房间里。 (Wǒ duǒ zài fángjiān lǐ.) → “I'm hiding in my room.”
  • Intent is Key: The core of `埋伏` is the intent to spring a trap or launch an attack. Without that intent, another word for “hiding” is more appropriate.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • `潜伏 (qiánfú)` - To lie low, to go underground, to infiltrate. Used for spies and undercover agents. The goal is to hide long-term, not necessarily to attack.
  • `偷袭 (tōuxí)` - A sneak attack or raid. This is often the action that a group in `埋伏` will carry out.
  • `伏击 (fújī)` - A very close synonym for `埋伏`, meaning “to ambush” (`伏` crouch + `击` attack). Often used interchangeably, though `伏击` can feel slightly more focused on the action of attacking itself.
  • `陷阱 (xiànjǐng)` - A trap or a snare. This can be a physical trap (like a pitfall) or a metaphorical one. An ambush (`埋伏`) is a type of strategic `陷阱`.
  • `埋下伏笔 (mái xià fúbǐ)` - A set phrase meaning “to foreshadow” or to plant clues for later in a story.
  • `躲藏 (duǒcáng)` - The general term for “to hide” or “to go into hiding,” without the aggressive connotation of `埋伏`.
  • `孙子兵法 (Sūnzǐ Bīngfǎ)` - “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu, the classic text on military strategy where concepts like `埋伏` are fundamental.