Word Meaning
छुपाना
chhupānā
Meaning
To hide, conceal, keep secret, or veil from sight.
Detailed Meaning
In classical poetry, 'छुपाना' denotes the act of concealing or cloaking something from view, whether feelings, flaws, or beauty. Here, combined in the idiom 'मुँह छुपाना' (to hide one's face), it refers to the beloved deliberately veiling or turning their face away from the lover. The poet argues that pretending to be a stranger is merely an excuse and urges the beloved to abandon such evasion.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit क्षुप / प्राकृत छिप्पइ (छिपना / छुपाना).
Usage
In ghazal poetry, hiding one's face (मुँह छुपाना) is a hallmark of the beloved's coquetry (हिजाब / नाज़), symbolizing both modest aloofness and teasing evasion.
Examples
Munh chhupana hum se chhora chahiye
Gham-e-dil ko kab tak chupaye koi