Common word› JLPT N3 › Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation 覆う · godan verb (-u)
Form Positive Negative Dictionary 覆おお う 覆おお わない Polite 覆おお います 覆おお いません Past polite 覆おお いました 覆おお いませんでした Past 覆おお った 覆おお わなかった Te-form 覆おお って 覆おお わないで Desire 覆おお いたい 覆おお いたくない Potential 覆おお える 覆おお えない Passive 覆おお われる 覆おお われない Causative 覆おお わせる 覆おお わせない Causative passive 覆おお わせられる also 覆おお わされる 覆おお わせられない also 覆おお わされない Volitional 覆おお おう Polite volitional 覆おお いましょう Imperative 覆おお え 覆おお うな Conditional 覆おお えば 覆おお わなければ Tara conditional 覆おお ったら 覆おお わなかったら
Usage patterns 〈 物もの 〉 で 〈 物もの 〉 を 覆おお う to cover something with something
I covered the table with a nice cloth.
〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 が 〈 物もの 〉 に 覆おお われる for a place to be covered with something
The mountaintop is covered in snow all year round.
〈 事こと 〉 が 〈 人ひと 〉 を 覆おお う for a feeling to envelop someone
His heart was overwhelmed with anxiety.
Expressions 目め を 覆おお う cover one's eyes; avert one's eyes; avoid looking Related words· 7 隠す focuses on hiding something from sight or knowledge, often intentionally, while 覆う emphasizes physically placing a cover over something, which may or may not be meant to conceal.
包む means to wrap something up gently, often in paper or cloth, whereas 覆う simply means to put a cover over or around something, often for protection or concealment.
被せる means to put a lid or cap on top of something, a more specific action, while 覆う is the broader verb for covering or enveloping something entirely.
覆う is a native Japanese verb for physically covering something, while カバー (sense 1) is a loanword usually referring to a manufactured protective cover like a book jacket or cushion cover.
Show 3 more Show fewer 覆う means to cover or conceal something (often physically), while 立ち込める specifically describes smoke, mist, or fog spreading and lingering in the air.
覆う is the common modern verb for covering a surface, while 埋める in this sense is a more literary or old-fashioned way to say the same thing.
覆う simply means to cover or conceal something from view, whereas 包み込む implies a softer, all-around enfolding, often with emotional warmth.
Don't confuse with 覆う (おおう , to cover) and 追う (おう , to chase) sound similar to learners but have completely unrelated meanings.
覆う (おおう ) sounds similar to 襲う (おそう ) but means 'to cover,' not 'to attack.'
覆う (おおう ) means 'to cover' something, while 覆る (くつがえる ) means 'to be overturned'; they share the kanji 覆 but have unrelated meanings and readings.
Word family· 8 cover; covering; mantle; shroud; hood
earflaps; earmuffs
kai-awase; Heian-period shell-matching game
rain cover; tarpaulin; awning
cover up; conceal; hide from view
Show 3 more Show fewer cover completely; envelop; wrap around
hang over; cover; overhang · fall upon; weigh on; press on
cover up with something; place something over
Written forms 覆おお う Usage 69%
Standard kanji spelling for covering, hiding, or enveloping.
おおう Usage 26%
蔽おお う Usage 2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
被おお う Usage 2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
掩おお う Usage 1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
蓋おお う Usage <1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
Etymology The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 覆 is conventionally associated with covering and overturning.
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