Refers to a personal or intimate secret, often with a nuance of something kept hidden from others. Common in literary or emotional contexts.
She carries a secret she can't tell anyone.
Their shared secret deepened their bond.
Standard kanji spelling.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling, also used.
Compound of 秘め (hime, continuative form of 秘める 'to hide') + 事 (koto 'thing, matter'). The reading ひめごと is a rendaku form of こと.