Japanese word

覆う

Pronunciation

Romajiōu

Meaning

  • verbcover

Example

霧が町を覆います。kiri ga machi o ō i ma su

Fog covers the town.

Illustration for 覆う (cover)

More examples

私は手で顔を覆います。watashi wa te de kao o ō i ma su

I cover my face with my hands.

Core concept

It describes a surface, layer, or surrounding mass spreading over something until it is enclosed or no longer visible.

Common phrases

  • 顔を覆うkao o ō u

    cover one's face

  • 布で覆うnuno de ō u

    cover with cloth

  • 表面を覆うhyō men o ō u

    cover the surface

Similar words

覆い隠すōikakusu: To make something no longer visible by covering it.
包むtsutsumu: To enclose something within a covering or surrounding layer.
被せるkabuseru: To place a cover or layer over something.

Definition in Japanese

物や場所の上に広がって全体を包み、外から見えなくする。mono ya ba sho no ue ni hiro ga tte zen tai o tsutsu mi soto ka ra mi e na ku su ru

Word origin

覆う (ōu) is a native Japanese verb, and its exact earlier formation is uncertain; the word is securely associated with the basic action of spreading over or enclosing something.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 覆う (ōu) applies both to a blanket covering a person and to fog hiding a town, linking its physical and concealment senses.

Other meanings

  • hideverb

Opposites

  • 露出するroshutsusurube exposedverb

Related words

  • 覆いōicoveringnoun

Word lists with this word