覆おおう

お

う

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-u), transitive verb

Broadly used for physically covering something, hiding it from view, or figuratively concealing facts or feelings. The core image is placing something over or around an object or area.

雪ゆきが山やま全ぜん体たいを覆おおった。
Snow covered the entire mountain.

彼かれは手てで顔かおを覆おおって泣ないた。

He covered his face with his hands and cried.

その事じ件けんは闇やみに覆おおわれている。

The incident is shrouded in darkness.

Written forms

覆おおうUsage69%
Standard kanji spelling for covering, hiding, or enveloping.
おおうUsage26%
蔽おおうUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
被おおうUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
掩おおうUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
蓋おおうUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

覆capsize, cover, shade
蔽cover, shade, mantle
被incur, cover, veil
掩

Similar words

隠かくす
隠す focuses on hiding something from sight or knowledge, often with intent. 覆う emphasizes covering or enveloping, which may or may not be for concealment.
包つつむ
包む means to wrap something up, often with a soft material like paper or cloth, and carries a nuance of enclosing gently. 覆う is more about placing a cover over something, often to protect or hide it.

Etymology

The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 覆 is conventionally associated with covering and overturning.

cover, conceal

蓋cover, lid, flap