私下

• Pinyin: sī xià
• Hanzi breakdown: 私 = 禾 + 厶 (personal grain); 下 = 下 (below)

Meaning

In private; privately; behind the scenes. As an adverb, secretly or unofficially.

Indicates actions or conversations conducted away from public view, often implying confidentiality or informality. Used for personal dealings, unofficial communications, or discrete behavior.

Examples

1. 他们私下已经达成了协议。 They’ve already reached an agreement in private.
2. 老师私下告诉我考试的重点。 The teacher privately told me what to focus on for the exam.
3. 两国代表私下进行了多次接触。 Representatives of the two countries had multiple private contacts.

Usage Guide

Context: business, diplomacy, relationships

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们私下聊一聊这件事。(Let's discuss this matter privately.)
• 他私下承认自己犯了错误。(He admitted his mistake in private.)

Don't Say

• 我私下去商店 — use 自己 or nothing; 私下 implies secrecy or informality, not solo activity

Origin & History

私 (private) + 下 (under/beneath)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal