Japanese word

かぶせる

Pronunciation

Romajikabuseru

Meaning

  • verbcover

Example

母は赤ちゃんに毛布をかぶせます。haha wa aka cha n ni mō fu o ka bu se ma su

The mother covers the baby with a blanket.

Illustration for かぶせる (cover)

More examples

箱に紙をかぶせました。bako ni kami o ka bu se ma shi ta

I covered the box with paper.

Core concept

It places one thing over another so that the lower thing becomes covered.

Common phrases

  • 帽子をかぶせるbō shi o ka bu se ru

    put a hat on someone

  • ふたをかぶせるfu ta o ka bu se ru

    put a lid on

  • 頭にかぶせるatama ni ka bu se ru

    put on the head

Similar words

覆うōu: To cover a surface or object by spreading or placing something over it.
覆いかぶせるōikabuseru: To cover something completely by putting one thing over it.
掛けるkakeru: To put something over or across an object, often letting it hang down.

Definition in Japanese

人や物の上に物を置き、覆うようにすること。hito ya mono no ue ni mono o o ki ō u yō ni su ru ko to

Word origin

The native Japanese verb かぶせる (kabuseru, "to cover something") is the transitive partner of かぶる (kaburu, "to wear or cover oneself"), shifting the covering action to another object.

Usage tips

  • The contrast between 子どもが帽子をかぶる (kodomo ga bōshi o kaburu) and 母が子どもに帽子をかぶせる (haha ga kodomo ni bōshi o kabuseru) shows who performs the covering action.

Related words

  • かぶせ物kabusemonocoveringnoun

Word lists with this word