打うち伏ふす

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su)

mask oneself; hide one's true feelings

Literary or archaic expression for concealing one's emotions or intentions, often by adopting a false demeanor.

彼かれは悲かなしみを打うち伏ふして、笑え顔がおを見みせた。
He masked his sorrow and showed a smile.

2

godan verb (-su)

lie down

; prostrate oneself

Describes lying face down or prostrating, often in a context of submission, exhaustion, or concealment. Rare in modern colloquial speech.

疲つかれ果はてて、その場ばに打うち伏ふした。
Exhausted, he lay down on the spot.

Written forms

打うち伏ふすUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling for this verb.
打うち伏ふす
Variant without okurigana ち; less common but still encountered.
打うち臥ふす
Uses the rare kanji 臥; mainly found in older or literary texts.

Kanji

打strike, hit, knock
伏prostrated, bend down, bow
臥bend down, bow, lie prostrate

Similar words

伏ふせる
Common modern verb for lying face down or hiding something; 打ち伏す is more literary and emphasizes the action of throwing oneself down or masking emotions.
横よこたわる
General verb for lying down; 打ち伏す specifically implies lying face down or prostrating, often with a nuance of defeat or concealment.

Etymology

Compound of 打ち (uchi, prefix adding emphasis or forceful action) and 伏す (fusu, 'to lie face down' or 'to hide'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys a strong sense of prostrating or concealing.