Translation guide
Ways to express hiding in Japanese, from physically concealing oneself or objects to keeping information secret.
お金を隠した。
I hid the money.
To conceal one's body or presence from view, often by moving behind something or staying out of sight.
Intransitive verb meaning to hide oneself. The most common and neutral way to say someone is hiding.
子供が机の下に隠れている。
The child is hiding under the desk.
泥棒は警察から隠れた。
The thief hid from the police.
Literally 'hide one's body'. Slightly more formal or literary than 隠れる. Often used when hiding from danger or in a strategic sense.
彼は物陰に身を隠した。
He hid himself behind something.
To lurk or lie hidden, often with a nuance of waiting or being concealed for a purpose. Used for animals, people, or abstract things like danger.
影に潜む敵
An enemy lurking in the shadows
To put something out of sight so others cannot find or see it.
Transitive verb meaning to hide something. The most common and neutral way to say you are hiding an object.
プレゼントをクローゼットに隠した。
I hid the present in the closet.
彼は証拠を隠そうとした。
He tried to hide the evidence.
To put away or store something, often implying hiding it from view or keeping it safe. More casual and everyday than 隠す.
おもちゃを箱にしまって。
Put the toys away in the box.
To keep facts, emotions, or secrets from being known by others.
Transitive verb also used for hiding abstract things like feelings, secrets, or information.
彼は怒りを隠せなかった。
He couldn't hide his anger.
会社は事故を隠していた。
The company was hiding the accident.
To keep something a secret. More explicit about the intention to not reveal information.
その計画は秘密にされている。
The plan is being kept secret.
To conceal or keep something hidden, often used for information or one's identity. Slightly formal or written.
To stay hidden for a period of time, often to avoid being caught or found.
To hide out or lie low, typically used for fugitives, spies, or infectious diseases. Formal.
犯人は山に潜伏している。
The criminal is hiding out in the mountains.
To keep oneself hidden, often for a period of time. Similar to 潜伏する but slightly less formal.
彼はしばらく身を潜めていた。
He lay low for a while.
To obscure or block something from view using another object.
To block or obstruct view, light, or sound. Not exactly 'hiding' but often used when something is concealed by an obstacle.
カーテンが光を遮っている。
The curtain is blocking the light.
To cover or conceal by placing something over. Can be physical or metaphorical.
隠れる (kakureru) is intransitive: the subject hides itself. 隠す (kakusu) is transitive: the subject hides something else. Do not confuse them.
To say someone is hiding (themselves), use 隠れる, not 隠す. 隠す would mean you are hiding that person, which sounds like kidnapping or concealment of a body.
Report while concealing the name.
Snow covers the ground.