Definition
归隐 is a literary separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to withdraw from public life and live in seclusion' — a concept deeply tied to Chinese cultural history, especially scholars and officials who deliberately left government service for a simple life in nature. As a v.o., the object 隐 can be separated from 归 by aspect markers or modifiers: you can say 归了隐 or 归过隐.
v.o.
to retire from public life and live in seclusion
Examples
- 归隐。Tā cíguān hòu xuǎnzé guī yǐn shānlín.After resigning from office, he chose to live in seclusion in the mountains.
- 。Zhè wèi shīrén niánqīng shí jiù yǐjīng guī le yǐn.This poet had already retired into seclusion when he was young.
- 归隐。Gǔdài hěnduō wénrén dōu yǒu guī yǐn de yuànwàng.Many ancient literati had the wish to live in seclusion.
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