埋伏

• Pinyin: mái fú
• Hanzi breakdown: 埋 = 土 (earth) + 里 (inside); 伏 = 人 (person) + 犬 (dog) — a person crouching down like a dog

Meaning

To lie in ambush; to position oneself in hiding for a surprise attack or interception. Also used broadly to mean lying low or lurking in wait.

Originally a military strategy term, now widely used in police operations, figurative traps, and even game or humorous contexts. 设伏 refers to setting the ambush; 中埋伏 means to fall into one.

Examples

1. 侦察分队在山谷两侧提前埋伏，等待敌军纵队进入包围圈后同时发起攻击。 The recon team set up an ambush on both sides of the valley in advance, waiting to launch a coordinated attack once the enemy column entered the encirclement.
2. 警方根据线人提供的情报，在货物交接地点秘密埋伏，一举将整个走私团伙抓获归案。 Based on a tip from an informant, the police set up a covert ambush at the handoff location and captured the entire smuggling ring in one sweep.
3. 她在公司大门口埋伏了整整两个小时，只为当面质问那位从不回邮件的供应商。 She waited in ambush outside the company entrance for a full two hours, just to confront the supplier who never replied to emails.

Usage Guide

Context: military, law enforcement, strategy, colloquial

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 特警队提前在目标建筑周边布置埋伏，切断所有逃跑路线，确保行动启动后不留任何突破口。(The SWAT team set up ambushes around the target building in advance, cutting off all escape routes to ensure that once the operation began there were no gaps to break through.)
• 从战略角度看，埋伏战术要求指挥官对地形有深入了解，并能精确判断敌方的行进路线和时间节点。(From a strategic perspective, ambush tactics require the commander to have an in-depth understanding of the terrain and the ability to accurately judge the enemy's route of advance and timing.)

Don't Say

• 将埋伏与伏击混用不加区分 — 埋伏 refers to the act of lying in wait (the preparation/hiding state), while 伏击 refers to the actual surprise attack; 埋伏 is the preparation phase and 伏击 is the execution

Origin & History

埋 (to bury/hide) + 伏 (to crouch/submit) — to hide in a crouching position, ready to strike

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal