埋没 (mái mò) is a transitive verb meaning 'to suppress' or 'to stifle'—especially talents, potential, abilities, or voices that deserve recognition. Literally, 埋 means 'to bury' and 没 means 'to submerge' or 'to disappear underwater'; together, they evoke the image of something valuable being buried underground or drowned out, rendering it invisible or ineffective. This word carries a strong sense of injustice or loss, often implying external forces (e.g., rigid systems, prejudice, or lack of opportunity) are preventing someone’s gifts from emerging.

It is commonly used in formal, literary, or reflective contexts—such as education, career development, social commentary, or personal growth discussions. While it can describe physical concealment metaphorically (e.g., a genius buried in obscurity), it almost never refers to literal burial or drowning. The object is typically abstract: talent, ability, potential, voice, contribution, or promise. It is not used for concrete objects like books or tools unless figuratively (e.g., 'a book whose ideas were buried').