Translation guide
How to express the act of concealing oneself to avoid detection, danger, or pursuit in Japanese.
The basic act of making oneself unseen or unfindable.
To vanish from society or public view, often to avoid authorities or media.
Literally 'go underground'. Used for activists, dissidents, or anyone disappearing from official surveillance.
活動家たちは地下に潜った。
The activists went underground.
Going into hiding for protection, often in a safe place or under someone's care.
To evacuate or take shelter. Used for fleeing danger (natural disasters, war) and hiding in a safe location.
住民は安全な場所に避難した。
The residents took refuge in a safe place.
隠れる is the everyday word for hiding (e.g., playing hide-and-seek). 身を隠す is more deliberate and often implies hiding from a threat. 潜伏する is used for fugitives or long-term hiding, common in news reports.
The most common intransitive verb for hiding oneself. Used for physically concealing your body.
犯人は山に隠れた。
The criminal hid in the mountains.
子供たちはクローゼットに隠れている。
The children are hiding in the closet.
Literally 'hide one's body'. A slightly more formal or literary way to say 'go into hiding', often implying a deliberate act to avoid danger or attention.
彼は追手から身を隠した。
He hid from his pursuers.
To lie low, to hide out (often for a longer period, like a fugitive or spy). Used in news or formal contexts.
容疑者は市内に潜伏していると見られる。
The suspect is believed to be hiding out in the city.
To disappear, to vanish from sight. Can be used for people who suddenly stop appearing in public.
彼女は突然姿を消した。
She suddenly disappeared (went into hiding).
Literally 'hide behind clouds'. A poetic or literary expression for disappearing without a trace.
彼は世間から雲隠れした。
He vanished from the public eye.
Passive form of 匿う (to shelter/hide someone). Means to be hidden or sheltered by someone else.
彼は友人に匿われた。
He was hidden by a friend.
The criminal is hiding out deep in the mountains.
隠す (かくす) is transitive and means 'to hide something'. To say you hide yourself, use the intransitive 隠れる or the phrase 身を隠す. Saying 自分を隠す is grammatically possible but sounds unnatural; use 隠れる instead.
The criminal is hiding out deep in the mountains.
隠す (かくす) is transitive and means 'to hide something'. To say you hide yourself, use the intransitive 隠れる or the phrase 身を隠す. Saying 自分を隠す is grammatically possible but sounds unnatural; use 隠れる instead.