Japanese word

隠れる

Pronunciation

Romajikakureru

Meaning

  • verbhide

Example

鬼ごっこで木の後ろに隠れます。oni go kko de ki no ushi ro ni kaku re ma su

I hide behind a tree during a game of tag.

Illustration for 隠れる (hide)

More examples

弟はカーテンの後ろに隠れます。otōto wa kā te n no ushi ro ni kaku re ma su

My little brother hides behind the curtain.

子どもたちは先生に見つからないように隠れました。ko do mo ta chi wa sen sei ni mi tsu ka ra na i yō ni kaku re ma shi ta

The children hid so their teacher would not find them.

Core concept

The subject moves or remains out of sight, often by placing itself behind something that blocks view.

Common phrases

  • 暗闇に隠れるkura yami ni kaku re ru

    hide in the dark

  • 物陰に隠れるmono kage ni kaku re ru

    hide in the shadows

Similar words

潜むhisomu: To keep oneself out of view in a concealed place.

Definition in Japanese

他人に見られないよう、物陰などに身を置いて姿を見せなくなる。ta nin ni mi ra re na i yō mono kage na do ni mi o o i te sugata o mi se na ku na ru

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 隠れる (kakureru, "to hide oneself") is the modern form of the older verb 隠る (kakuru, "to hide oneself"), retaining the sense of becoming unseen.

Usage tips

  • English hide can take a direct object, while 隠れる (kakureru) describes the subject becoming unseen and normally uses a location phrase rather than a direct object.

Other meanings

  • take coververb

Opposites

Word lists with this word