内幕

• Pinyin: nèi mù
• Hanzi breakdown: 内 = 冂 + 人; 幕 = 莫(no/dark, phonetic) + 巾(cloth) — a curtain or backdrop

Meaning

The inside story; behind-the-scenes truth; backstage information hidden from the public.

Refers to insider information about events, organisations, or decisions not publicly known. Often used in investigative journalism, scandal reporting, and gossip. Carries a connotation of secrecy, concealment, or potential wrongdoing.

Examples

1. 这本书披露了那次政治危机的内幕，揭示了大量从未公开过的谈判细节和幕后交易。 This book reveals the inside story of that political crisis, exposing many negotiation details and backroom deals that were never made public.
2. 记者历时两年深入调查，终于掌握了这桩腐败案的完整内幕，随即将其公之于众。 After two years of in-depth investigation, the reporter finally uncovered the full inside story of this corruption case and then made it public.
3. 圈内人私下透露，这次合并背后另有内幕，表面上的财务理由不过是为外界准备的说辞。 Insiders privately revealed that there was more to this merger than meets the eye; the financial rationale presented publicly was just a line prepared for outsiders.

Usage Guide

Context: journalism, politics, business, investigative reporting, gossip

Tone: revealing/critical

Do Say

• 这部纪录片深入挖掘了那家倒闭企业的经营内幕，让观众得以了解一个商业帝国是如何在短短数年内轰然崩塌的。(This documentary digs deep into the operational inside story of the collapsed company, allowing viewers to understand how a business empire crumbled in just a few short years.)
• 据知情人士透露，这项政策出台的背后内幕远比官方声明复杂，涉及多个利益集团之间长达数月的激烈博弈。(According to insiders, the story behind this policy is far more complex than the official statement, involving fierce maneuvering among multiple interest groups for several months.)

Don't Say

• 将'内幕'用于公开且正式的信息 — 内幕 specifically refers to information that is hidden or not publicly disclosed; for open background information, use 背景 or 详情

Origin & History

内(inner/inside) + 幕(curtain/behind the curtain). Together: what is behind the curtain — what happens backstage, out of public view.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal