Japanese word

化ける

Pronunciation

Romajibakeru

Meaning

  • verbturn into

Example

たぬきが人間に化けます。ta nu ki ga nin gen ni ba ke ma su

The raccoon dog turns into a human.

Illustration for 化ける (turn into)

More examples

祭りの日には、友達が妖怪に化けて現れます。matsu ri no hi ni wa tomo dachi ga yō kai ni ba ke te arawa re ma su

On the day of the festival, my friend appears disguised as a monster.

Core concept

Describes a change in appearance or form that makes a person or thing seem to be something else.

Common phrases

  • 人間に化けるnin gen ni ba ke ru

    turn into a human

  • 別人に化けるbetsu jin ni ba ke ru

    disguise oneself as another person

Similar words

変身するhenshinsuru: To change into another form or appearance, often in a mysterious or unexpected way.
変装するhensōsuru: To change one's clothes or appearance to hide one's identity or look like someone else.
なりすますnarisumasu: To pretend to be another person by taking on that person's identity.

Definition in Japanese

本来の姿や形を変え、別のもののようになる。hon rai no sugata ya katachi o ka e betsu no mo no no yō ni na ru

Word origin

化ける (bakeru) is a native Japanese verb historically related to 化く (baku, "to transform"), and it retains the idea of changing form.

Usage tips

  • In casual Japanese, 化ける (bakeru) can describe a player or project that unexpectedly develops into something far more impressive than expected.

Other meanings

  • disguise oneselfverb
  • take the form of ___verb

Related words

  • 化け方bakekataway of disguising oneselfnoun

Word lists with this word