Translation guide
The English word "cover" has many meanings. This guide organizes them by practical use, from physical covering to abstract concepts like reporting or replacing someone.
To place an object over another to protect, hide, or enclose it.
General verb for covering something with a physical object, like a cloth or lid.
テーブルを布で覆った。
I covered the table with a cloth.
To cover by placing something over from above, like a lid or a hat.
鍋に蓋をかぶせてください。
Please put a lid on the pot.
To hang or drape something over, like a blanket or coat.
ソファに毛布を掛けた。
I covered the sofa with a blanket.
To spread across or exist over a large area.
Used for snow, clouds, or other things spreading over an area.
雪が地面を覆っている。
Snow covers the ground.
Describes something spreading all over, often used for natural phenomena.
霧が一面に広がった。
Fog covered the whole area.
To address or contain something as part of a discussion, book, or course.
To deal with or cover a topic in a book, class, etc.
この本は日本の歴史を扱っている。
This book covers Japanese history.
To include or contain a topic as part of something.
To cover comprehensively, often used in formal contexts.
この辞書は現代語を網羅している。
This dictionary covers modern language comprehensively.
To provide news coverage of an event or story.
Standard term for news reporting.
その事件はテレビで報道された。
The incident was covered on TV.
To gather news or cover a story as a journalist.
記者が現場を取材した。
Reporters covered the scene.
To protect against loss, damage, or risk, often through insurance.
To compensate or cover losses, used in insurance contexts.
この保険は盗難を補償します。
This insurance covers theft.
Loanword from English, commonly used in casual or business contexts.
この保険は事故もカバーする？
Does this insurance cover accidents too?
To travel a certain distance.
To advance or cover a distance.
一日で100キロ進んだ。
We covered 100 kilometers in one day.
To cover a distance by running or driving, often used in sports or races.
彼はマラソンを2時間で走破した。
He covered the marathon in 2 hours.
To do someone's job or duty while they are absent.
To take someone's place or cover for them.
彼が病気なので、私が代わりをします。
He's sick, so I'll cover for him.
Loanword used in work contexts to mean covering a shift or duty.
明日のシフト、カバーしてくれる？
Can you cover my shift tomorrow?
To hide something, often a mistake or a feeling.
To hide or conceal something intentionally.
彼は失敗を隠そうとした。
He tried to cover up his mistake.
To cover up or gloss over something, often with a nuance of deception.
While カバーする is common in casual Japanese, it doesn't cover all meanings of "cover." For physical covering, use 覆う or かぶせる. For news reporting, use 報道する. Overusing カバーする can sound unnatural.
覆う is a general verb for covering something, often with a flat object like a cloth. かぶせる specifically means to cover from above, like putting a lid on a pot or a hat on a head.
食べ物をラップで覆ってください。
Please cover the food with plastic wrap.
ニュースは選挙結果を報道した。
The news covered the election results.
明日の授業の代わりをしてくれる人が必要です。
I need someone to cover my class tomorrow.
The exam covers up to chapter 5.
彼は笑ってごまかした。
He covered it up with a laugh.