Translation guide
How to express the idea of keeping information secret or private in Japanese, covering formal agreements, everyday privacy, and professional discretion.
Referring to the principle or obligation to keep information secret, often in business, legal, or medical contexts.
The legal or professional duty of confidentiality. Commonly used in contracts, corporate policies, and professional ethics.
Doctors have a duty of confidentiality.
Please sign the confidentiality agreement.
The act of maintaining secrecy. Often used in formal documents like NDAs (秘密保持契約).
To sign a non-disclosure agreement.
The quality of being confidential, often used in information security contexts (e.g., data confidentiality).
Ensure data confidentiality.
Talking about the act of not revealing information, in everyday or less formal situations.
To keep something a secret; to not tell others. Very common in casual conversation.
Keep this between us, okay?
He keeps his salary a secret.
To make something a secret; to keep confidential. Slightly more formal than 内緒.
Please keep that information confidential.
Concealment; keeping something hidden. Used in technical or formal contexts like data anonymization.
Emphasizing the protection of personal information or the need to be discreet.
Privacy. Often used in contexts like personal data protection or respecting someone's private life.
Protect patient confidentiality/privacy.
Strict confidentiality. Often seen on documents or as a policy.
This document is strictly confidential.
To not disclose; to keep one's mouth shut. Implies a promise not to tell anyone.
Referring to the secret or private information rather than the concept of confidentiality.
内緒 (naisho) is casual and often used among friends or family for personal secrets. 秘密 (himitsu) is more neutral and can be used in both casual and formal settings. For legal or professional confidentiality, use 守秘義務 or 秘密保持.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'confidentiality'. Choose the expression based on context: legal duty (守秘義務), general secrecy (秘密), or privacy (プライバシー). Using 機密性 outside of IT security may sound unnatural.
Concealment of personal information is necessary.
Please do not disclose anything you hear here.
Secret information; slightly broader than 機密情報, can be used in legal contexts.
Be careful with the handling of confidential information.