When something is cryptic, it has a meaning, but that meaning is not sitting on the surface. You can hear the words, or see the look on someone's face, and still not be sure what you are being told.

When something is cryptic當某件事是cryptic的時候, it has a meaning, but that meaning is not sitting on the surface它是有意義的，只是那個意義不是浮在表面上的. You can hear the words, or see the look on someone's face你可以聽到那些話，或看到某人臉上的表情, and still not be sure what you are being told卻還是不確定對方到底在跟你說什麼.

People call a short remark cryptic when it feels like a riddle. They call a smile or a note cryptic when you cannot tell if the person is pleased, angry, or only playing. In Britain, a "cryptic crossword" is a special kind of word puzzle: every clue is a trick, not a straight hint.

People call a short remark cryptic when it feels like a riddle當一句簡短的話讓人覺得像謎語的時候，大家就會說它cryptic. They call a smile or a note cryptic when you cannot tell if the person is pleased, angry, or only playing如果一個微笑或字條讓你分不出對方是高興、生氣，還是只是在鬧著玩，大家也會說它cryptic. In Britain在英國, a "cryptic crossword" is a special kind of word puzzle『cryptic crossword』是一種特別的填字遊戲: every clue is a trick, not a straight hint每一條提示都是個陷阱，不是直接的暗示.

The word sounds a little educated — more at home in newspapers and careful talk than in very young speech — but in everyday use it is not a science term.

The word sounds a little educated這個字聽起來有點文化水準 — more at home in newspapers and careful talk than in very young speech比較常出現在報紙和講究的談話裡，而不是很年輕的口語 — but in everyday use it is not a science term但在日常用法裡它不是科學術語.

Though actually, biologists sometimes write kryptic, with a k, for animals that stay hidden; that is the same old root, a different spelling, and a different crowd. Scientists also talk about cryptic colouring, meaning colour that hides an animal in its background.

Though actually不過, biologists sometimes write kryptic, with a k, for animals that stay hidden生物學家有時候會寫成kryptic，用k開頭，來形容那些會躲藏的動物; that is the same old root, a different spelling, and a different crowd那是同一個古字根，只是拼法不同、用的人也不同. Scientists also talk about cryptic colouring科學家也會談到cryptic colouring, meaning colour that hides an animal in its background指的是能讓動物隱藏在背景裡的顏色.

The everyday adjective you will meet is still this one: hard to read on purpose, or at least not easy.

The everyday adjective you will meet is still this one你會遇到的日常形容詞還是這一個: hard to read on purpose, or at least not easy故意讓人難以看懂，或至少不容易看懂.