(bǎo mì) - to keep secret, to maintain confidentiality in Mandarin
bǎomìTraditional: 保密
Translation
to keep secret, to maintain confidentiality
Word origin
A compound of 保 (bǎo, to protect, to keep) and 密 (mì, dense, close, secret), so to guard something closed off.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 保 (bǎo, to protect) + 密 (mì, secret)
Stroke order
保
密
Examples
。
Please keep this matter confidential.
。
The company requires staff to keep the new product confidential.
。
I promised him I would keep it secret.
。
The doctor keeps the patient's condition strictly confidential.
，。
Don't worry, I will certainly keep it to myself.
保密 (bǎo mì) is the verb for keeping something confidential. It covers everything from a friend's private news to a state secret, and it is the standard word on official documents and workplace contracts.
In use it usually takes 对 for the thing being protected: 对这件事保密 means to keep quiet about this matter. It can also stand alone as an instruction, and 请保密 on the end of a message is the Mandarin equivalent of "this is between us".
The trap for English speakers is treating 保密 as a noun. It is a verb, so "keep the secret" is 保密, not 保守一个保密. If you want the noun, the word you want is 秘密 (mì mì), the secret itself.
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保密: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "保密" (to keep secret, to maintain confidentiality): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 60.