Translation guide
How to express the idea of keeping something secret in Japanese, from everyday phrases to formal expressions.
秘密にしてください。
Please keep it a secret.
Expressing that something is kept secret or confidential.
The most common and versatile way to say 'keep something secret'. Literally 'make it a secret'.
このことは秘密にしてください。
Please keep this a secret.
He kept the plan secret.
A casual, everyday word for 'secret' or 'keeping something between us'. Often used among friends or family.
Literally 'to be silent', used to mean keeping quiet about something, not revealing a secret.
このことは黙っていてください。
Please keep quiet about this.
彼は何も知らないふりをして黙っていた。
He kept quiet, pretending not to know anything.
A formal, often technical term for concealment or keeping something hidden. Used in legal or official contexts.
情報の秘匿が求められる。
Concealment of information is required.
Emphasizing the act of keeping a secret as promised, not telling anyone.
A strong expression meaning 'not to divulge' or 'not to tell others'. Often used when promising to keep a secret.
この件は口外しないと約束します。
I promise not to tell anyone about this matter.
彼は秘密を決して口外しなかった。
He never divulged the secret.
Similar to 口外しない, meaning 'not to tell others'. Slightly more formal and often used in written pledges.
ここで聞いたことは他言無用です。
What you hear here must not be repeated to others.
Literally 'protect the secret', meaning to keep a secret faithfully.
彼は私の秘密を守ってくれた。
He kept my secret.
Actively hiding or covering up information, often with a nuance of deception.
The basic verb for 'to hide' or 'to conceal' something. Can be used for physical objects or information.
彼は真実を隠した。
He hid the truth.
その事実は隠されていた。
That fact was kept secret.
To keep something hidden in one's heart or mind, often feelings or thoughts. More literary.
To keep something undisclosed or to lay low. Often used in the phrase 伏せておく (keep it under wraps).
Expressing confidentiality in business, legal, or professional settings.
Refers to confidential or classified information. Often used in compounds like 機密保持 (confidentiality).
機密情報を厳重に管理する。
Strictly manage confidential information.
The act of maintaining secrecy, often used in contracts or agreements (秘密保持契約, non-disclosure agreement).
Short for 守秘義務 (duty of confidentiality). Used in legal or medical contexts.
医師には守秘義務がある。
Doctors have a duty of confidentiality.
秘密 (himitsu) is the general word for 'secret' and can be used in both formal and casual situations. 内緒 (naisho) is more casual and implies a personal secret shared between close individuals. Using 内緒 in a formal setting may sound too familiar.
English 'keep a secret' cannot be directly translated using 保つ (tamotsu, to keep/maintain). Instead, use phrases like 秘密にする or 秘密を守る. Saying 秘密を保つ is not natural Japanese.
何年も秘密にしてきた。
I kept the secret for years.
She never told anyone the feelings she kept hidden in her heart.
Let's keep this information under wraps for a while.
秘密保持契約にサインした。
I signed a non-disclosure agreement.