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深藏若虚

shēn cáng ruò xūdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to hide one's treasure away so that no-one knows about it (idiom) / fig. modest about one's talents / to hide one's light under a bushel
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-361462adc6373e15. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

深藏若虛 深藏若虚 [shen1 cang2 ruo4 xu1] /to hide one's treasure away so that no-one knows about it (idiom); fig. modest about one's talents/to hide one's light under a bushel/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 深藏若虛

  • 深
    shēn

    (lit. and fig.) deep

  • 藏
    cáng

    to conceal / to hide away / to harbor / to store / to collect

    zàng

    storehouse / depository / Buddhist or Taoist scripture

    Zàng

    Tibetan ethnic group / Tibet Autonomous Region (short name for 西藏自治區|西藏自治区[Xī zàng Zì zhì qū])

  • 若
    rě

    used in 般若[bō rě] / used in 蘭若|兰若[lán rě]

    ruò

    to seem / like / as / if

  • 虚
    xū

    emptiness / void / abstract theory or guiding principles / empty or unoccupied / diffident or timid / false / humble or modest / (of health) weak / virtual / in vain

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.