Translation guide
The English phrase "hide oneself" can refer to physically concealing one's body, staying out of sight, or keeping one's identity or feelings secret. Japanese has several common verbs and expressions for these situations, and the best choice depends on whether the hiding is physical, metaphorical, or intentional.
To place oneself behind or inside something so as not to be seen, often intentionally.
The most common and general verb for hiding oneself physically. It is an intransitive verb meaning 'to hide (oneself)' or 'to be hidden'.
子供が押し入れに隠れた。
The child hid in the closet.
泥棒は茂みに隠れた。
The thief hid in the bushes.
Literally 'to hide one's body'. More deliberate and often used when someone is trying to avoid being found, such as a fugitive or someone in hiding.
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. Can be used for people, animals, or abstract things.
犯人は闇に潜んでいる。
The culprit is lurking in the darkness.
A formal or literary term meaning to hide or lie low. Rare in everyday speech.
彼は山奥に隠伏した。
He hid himself deep in the mountains.
To keep oneself from being seen, often by staying away from public view or not drawing attention.
Literally 'to hide one's figure/appearance'. Used when someone disappears from sight or avoids showing themselves.
彼は人混みの中に姿を隠した。
He hid himself in the crowd.
To disappear as if hiding behind clouds; often used when someone vanishes or goes into hiding suddenly.
彼は借金取りから雲隠れした。
He hid from the debt collectors.
To seclude oneself from the world; to live in hiding or as a hermit. Formal and literary.
彼は世を捨てて隠遁した。
He abandoned the world and hid himself away.
To not reveal who you really are, often by using a false name or persona.
To hide one's identity. Used when someone conceals their name, background, or personal details.
彼女は身元を隠してホテルに泊まった。
She hid her identity and stayed at the hotel.
To hide one's true character or form, often used for supernatural beings or people with secret identities.
その男は正体を隠して近づいてきた。
The man approached while hiding his true identity.
To make oneself anonymous; to hide one's name. Often used in contexts like online posting or whistleblowing.
彼は匿名で手紙を送った。
He sent the letter anonymously (hiding his identity).
To not show what one truly feels or thinks; to keep emotions hidden.
To hide one's emotions. A straightforward and common expression.
彼は悲しみを隠して笑った。
He hid his sadness and smiled.
To hide one's true feelings or intentions.
彼女は本心を隠して賛成した。
She hid her true feelings and agreed.
To keep something hidden inside, especially feelings or thoughts. Often used in literary or emotional contexts.
隠れる is the general intransitive verb for hiding oneself physically. 身を隠す is more deliberate and often implies hiding from a specific threat or authority. Use 隠れる for everyday hiding (e.g., playing hide-and-seek), and 身を隠す when someone is actively evading capture or observation.
隠す is a transitive verb meaning 'to hide something'. To say 'I hide myself', you must use the intransitive 隠れる or a phrase like 身を隠す. Saying 自分を隠す is grammatically possible but sounds unnatural; it's better to use the dedicated intransitive verb.
He spoke of the feelings he had hidden in his heart.