かくまう

か

く

ま

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

shelter; harbor; hide; give refuge to

usually written using kana alone

Used for hiding or protecting a person (often a fugitive, criminal, or someone in trouble) from authorities or pursuers. Implies deliberate concealment.

彼かれは逃とう亡ぼう者しゃをかくまった罪つみで逮たい捕ほされた。
He was arrested for sheltering a fugitive.

友ゆう人じんは私わたしを警けい察さつからかくまってくれた。

My friend hid me from the police.

Written forms

かくまうUsage77%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 匿う, 匿まう, 囲まう are rare and not commonly used.
匿かくまうUsage23%
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.
匿かくまう
Rare kanji spelling with okurigana; the kana form is strongly preferred.
囲かくまう
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred.

Kanji

匿hide, shelter, shield
囲surround, besiege, store

Similar words

隠かくす
隠す is a general verb for hiding objects, facts, or feelings, while かくまう specifically means hiding a person to protect them from danger or authority.
匿かくまう
Same word; the kanji spelling is rare and the kana form かくまう is strongly preferred in modern usage.

Etymology

The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 匿 means 'hide' or 'conceal', and the reading かくまう may be related to 隠す (かくす, 'to hide') with an old auxiliary element.