Japanese word

内緒

Pronunciation

Romajinaisho

Meaning

  • nounsecret

Example

この話は内緒にしてください。ko no hanashi wa nai sho ni shi te ku da sa i

Please keep this a secret.

Illustration for 内緒 (secret)

More examples

兄の誕生日まで内緒にします。ani no tan jō hi ma de nai sho ni shi ma su

I will keep it a secret until my brother's birthday.

その計画はまだ内緒です。so no kei kaku wa ma da nai sho de su

That plan is still a secret.

Core concept

Refers to information kept from other people rather than shared openly.

Common phrases

  • 内緒にするnai sho ni su ru

    keep secret

  • 内緒でnai sho de

    in secret

Similar words

秘密himitsu: Information intentionally kept from others or not generally known.
隠し事kakushigoto: Something a person deliberately keeps hidden from others.
内密naimitsu: A matter handled confidentially and not disclosed to others.
機密kimitsu: Information restricted to authorized people, often for official or business reasons.

Definition in Japanese

他人に知られないようにしている事柄。ta nin ni shi ra re na i yō ni shi te i ru koto gara

Word origin

内緒 (naisho) developed from 内証 (naishō), a term that originally referred to an inner Buddhist realization and later came to mean a private matter.

Usage tips

  • The phrase 内緒にする (naisho ni suru) is commonly used for keeping information from others, including plans that are meant to remain undisclosed for a while.

Other meanings

  • secrecynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word