Translation guide
How to express the idea of keeping something secret in Japanese, from everyday phrases to formal expressions.
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'.
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.
Please keep quiet about this.
A formal, often technical term for concealment or keeping something hidden. Used in legal or official contexts.
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.
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.
Expressing confidentiality in business, legal, or professional settings.
Refers to confidential or classified information. Often used in compounds like 機密保持 (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.
Protect company secrets.
これは内緒だよ。
This is a secret, okay?
Keep it to yourself, okay?
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.
情報の秘匿が求められる。
Concealment of information is required.
I promise not to tell anyone about this matter.
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.
What you hear here must not be repeated to others.
Literally 'protect the secret', meaning to keep a secret faithfully.
He kept my secret.
He hid the truth.
That fact was kept secret.
To keep something hidden in one's heart or mind, often feelings or thoughts. More literary.
She never told anyone the feelings she kept hidden in her heart.
To keep something undisclosed or to lay low. Often used in the phrase 伏せておく (keep it under wraps).
Let's keep this information under wraps for a while.
Strictly manage confidential information.
The act of maintaining secrecy, often used in contracts or agreements (秘密保持契約, non-disclosure agreement).
I signed a non-disclosure agreement.
Short for 守秘義務 (duty of confidentiality). Used in legal or medical contexts.
Doctors have a duty of confidentiality.
友達との内緒の話。
A secret talk with a friend.
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.
I kept the secret for years.