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人目を忍ぶ (ひとめをしのぶ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-bu)
avoid being seen ; act secretly
Used when someone does something while hiding from public view, often with a nuance of stealth or discretion. The phrase is a fixed expression; the verb 忍ぶ conjugates as a godan verb.
の
街まち
を
歩ある
い
た
。
He walked through the night streets as if to avoid being seen.
Kanji 忍 endure, bear, put up with Similar words こっそり こっそり is an adverb meaning 'secretly' or 'stealthily', while 人目を忍ぶ is a verb phrase focusing on the act of hiding from others' eyes.
隠かく れる 隠れる is a general intransitive verb for 'to hide (oneself)', whereas 人目を忍ぶ specifically emphasizes avoiding other people's gaze.
Etymology A set phrase combining 人目 (public gaze) and 忍ぶ (to conceal oneself, to avoid notice). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it has been used in classical and modern Japanese to describe stealthy behavior.
