Translation guide
How to express hiding or concealing oneself in Japanese, from physical hiding to metaphorical concealment.
To hide one's body or presence from others, such as behind an object or in a location.
The most common and general verb for hiding oneself physically. Intransitive; the subject hides.
彼は木の後ろに隠れた。
He hid behind a tree.
子供たちは押し入れに隠れている。
The children are hiding in the closet.
Literally 'hide one's body'. Slightly more formal or literary than 隠れる. Often used when hiding from danger or pursuit.
彼は警察から身を隠した。
He hid from the police.
To lurk or lie hidden, often with a nuance of waiting or being concealed in a place. More literary or dramatic.
暗闇に何かが潜んでいる。
Something is lurking in the darkness.
To conceal one's identity, feelings, or true nature from others.
To hide one's true identity. Often used for superheroes, spies, or people pretending to be someone else.
彼は正体を隠して生活している。
He lives concealing his true identity.
To hide one's true feelings or intentions.
彼女は本心を隠して笑った。
She smiled, hiding her true feelings.
To falsify or disguise one's identity, feelings, or facts. More formal and often used in written language.
To withdraw from public life, go into hiding, or live in seclusion.
To disappear from public view, go into hiding. Often used for celebrities or people avoiding attention.
その俳優は突然姿を隠した。
The actor suddenly disappeared from public view.
To retire from the world and live in seclusion. Often implies a deliberate, philosophical withdrawal.
彼は世を捨てて隠遁した。
He renounced the world and lived in seclusion.
To hide one's presence or actions in a non-physical way, such as online or in communication.
To conceal one's identity or personal information, often used in contexts like online anonymity.
ネットでは身元を隠す人が多い。
Many people conceal their identity online.
To make oneself anonymous. Common in digital contexts.
投稿は匿名にしてください。
Please post anonymously.
隠れる is the general intransitive verb for hiding oneself. 身を隠す is a transitive phrase that emphasizes hiding one's body, often with a sense of urgency or purpose. 隠れる is more common in everyday speech.
犬がソファの下に隠れた。
The dog hid under the sofa.
彼は追手から身を隠した。
He hid from his pursuers.
隠す is transitive and means 'to hide something'. To say 'I hide myself', use 隠れる (intransitive) or 身を隠す, not 自分を隠す.
彼は名前を偽ってホテルに泊まった。
He stayed at the hotel under a false name.