Translation guide
How to express hiding or concealing oneself in Japanese, from physical hiding to metaphorical concealment.
To hide one's body or presence from others, such as behind an object or in a location.
The most common and general verb for hiding oneself physically. Intransitive; the subject hides.
He hid behind a tree.
The children are hiding in the closet.
Literally 'hide one's body'. Slightly more formal or literary than 隠れる. Often used when hiding from danger or pursuit.
He hid from the police.
To lurk or lie hidden, often with a nuance of waiting or being concealed in a place. More literary or dramatic.
Something is lurking in the darkness.
To conceal one's identity, feelings, or true nature from others.
To hide one's true identity. Often used for superheroes, spies, or people pretending to be someone else.
He lives concealing his true identity.
To hide one's true feelings or intentions.
To falsify or disguise one's identity, feelings, or facts. More formal and often used in written language.
To withdraw from public life, go into hiding, or live in seclusion.
To disappear from public view, go into hiding. Often used for celebrities or people avoiding attention.
The actor suddenly disappeared from public view.
To retire from the world and live in seclusion. Often implies a deliberate, philosophical withdrawal.
He renounced the world and lived in seclusion.
To hide one's presence or actions in a non-physical way, such as online or in communication.
隠れる is the general intransitive verb for hiding oneself. 身を隠す is a transitive phrase that emphasizes hiding one's body, often with a sense of urgency or purpose. 隠れる is more common in everyday speech.
The dog hid under the sofa.
He hid from his pursuers.
隠す is transitive and means 'to hide something'. To say 'I hide myself', use 隠れる (intransitive) or 身を隠す, not 自分を隠す.
(incorrect for 'I hid myself')
She smiled, hiding her true feelings.
彼は名前を偽ってホテルに泊まった。
He stayed at the hotel under a false name.
I hid.