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B1 verb 10분 분량

隠す

kakusu

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁 隠す 30초 만에

설명 隠す in your Level:

At the A1 level, you learn that 'kakusu' means 'to hide.' It is a basic action verb. You use it when you put a toy in a box so no one can see it, or when you put your hands over your eyes. It is an active word—you are the one doing the hiding. You will mostly use it in the present tense (kakusu) or past tense (kakushita). For example: 'I hid the candy' (Okashi o kakushita). It's a useful word for simple games and daily life. You should remember that it needs an object (the thing you are hiding) followed by the particle 'o'.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the A2 level, you start using 'kakusu' for more than just physical objects. You might talk about hiding a secret from a friend or hiding your face because you are shy. You also learn how to use it with location particles, like 'hako no naka ni kakusu' (hide it inside the box). You should also begin to notice the difference between 'kakusu' (to hide something) and 'kakureru' (to hide yourself). In A2, you can use the polite form 'kakushimasu' and the negative 'kakusanai' comfortably in basic conversations.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the B1 level, you use 'kakusu' for abstract concepts like hiding emotions, evidence, or the truth. You understand that it's a transitive verb and can conjugate it into various forms like the potential (kakuseru - can hide) and the passive (kakusareru - is hidden by someone). You might use it to describe social situations, such as someone hiding their disappointment with a smile. You also learn common idioms like 'tsume o kakusu' (hiding one's talents). This level requires you to use 'kakusu' to explain motivations and more complex social behaviors.

At the B2 level, you can use 'kakusu' in formal and professional contexts. You might discuss a company 'hiding' information from the public or a politician 'hiding' their past. You understand the nuance between 'kakusu' and more formal synonyms like 'inpei suru' (concealment). You are also comfortable with compound words and complex sentence structures, such as using 'kakusu' in a relative clause: 'kare ga kakushite ita shinjitsu' (the truth that he was hiding). You can discuss the cultural implications of hiding one's 'honne' (true feelings) in Japanese society.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C1 level, you recognize the literary and nuanced uses of 'kakusu'. You can distinguish it from 'himeru' (to harbor/keep within) and 'hisomeru' (to muffle/conceal). You might encounter it in classical literature or high-level journalism where the act of hiding is used metaphorically to describe nature or complex human psychology. You understand how the choice of 'kakusu' over a more specific verb can change the tone of a piece of writing. You can use it fluently in debates about privacy, ethics, and transparency.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of 'kakusu'. You understand its historical roots and how its usage has evolved. You can use it in philosophical discussions about the nature of truth and appearance. You are aware of rare idioms and can use the verb with perfect precision in any register, from slang to highly formal academic prose. You can analyze why an author chose 'kakusu' in a specific poetic context and can explain the subtle psychological layers it adds to a character's actions.

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

연습하기 예시 노트와 팁

隠す 30초 만에

Kakusu is a transitive verb meaning 'to hide something' (object required).
It covers physical hiding, secret-keeping, and emotional concealment.
The kanji 隠 contains the 'mound' radical, suggesting obstruction.
Commonly paired with 'kakureru' (to hide oneself/be hidden).

The Japanese verb 隠す (kakusu) is a foundational Godan verb that primarily translates to "to hide," "to conceal," or "to keep secret." At its core, it describes the intentional act of placing something out of sight or preventing information from becoming known. Unlike its intransitive counterpart 隠れる (kakureru), which means "to be hidden" or "to hide oneself," 隠す always requires an object—someone is actively doing the hiding to something or someone else. This word spans a vast spectrum of human experience, from the literal act of a child tucking a toy under a bed to the complex psychological act of a professional masking their true emotions during a high-stakes negotiation.

Physical Concealment: This is the most direct usage. It refers to putting a physical object in a location where it cannot be seen. For example, hiding a gift before a birthday or concealing a weapon. In a Japanese household, you might hear this when discussing storage or tidying up, where items are 'hidden' away to maintain a clean aesthetic.
Abstract and Information Concealment: This involves secrets, facts, or evidence. If a company hides its losses, or a person hides their past, 隠す is the operative verb. It carries a nuance of intentionality that can range from protective (hiding a surprise) to deceptive (hiding a crime).
Emotional and Facial Expressions: In Japanese culture, the concept of honne (true feelings) and tatemae (public face) is central. 隠す is frequently used to describe the act of hiding one's true feelings (本心を隠す) or hiding a smile/tears with a hand. This is a common sight in Japanese media and daily life, reflecting a value for social harmony and restraint.

彼は恥ずかしそうに顔を隠した。
(He hid his face as if he were embarrassed.)

真実を隠すことはできない。
(You cannot hide the truth.)

In literature and media, 隠す often appears in detective stories where the culprit 'hides the evidence' (証拠を隠す) or in romantic dramas where a character 'hides their love' (恋心を隠す). The versatility of the word lies in its ability to handle both the mundane and the profound. Whether it is a cloud hiding the moon (月を隠す) or a politician hiding a scandal, the verb remains the same, emphasizing the act of obstruction. Understanding this word requires recognizing the cultural weight of what is kept 'hidden' in Japan, where privacy and the unspoken often hold as much significance as what is openly displayed.

猫は獲物を狙うとき、体を隠す。
(When a cat stalks prey, it hides its body.)

Register and Tone: While 隠す is neutral, its politeness level changes with its ending (e.g., kakushimasu). It is appropriate for all settings. However, in very formal or legal contexts, synonyms like inpei suru (to cover up) might be used for specific types of concealment.

Using 隠す correctly involves understanding its grammatical structure as a transitive verb. It typically follows the pattern: [Person] が [Object] を隠す. Because it is a Godan verb (Class 1), its conjugation follows the 'su' stem pattern. This means the final 'u' changes depending on the tense and formality. For instance, the negative form is kakusanai, the past tense is kakushita, and the polite form is kakushimasu. This reliability makes it a versatile tool for learners once the basic stem transformations are mastered.

Direct Object Usage: The particle を (o) is essential here. You are acting upon the object. Whether it's a physical object like a key (鍵を隠す) or a metaphorical one like a mistake (ミスを隠す), the grammar remains consistent. This consistency allows you to build complex sentences by simply swapping the object.
Location Particles: When specifying where something is hidden, you usually use に (ni) to indicate the destination or target location. For example, hako no naka ni kakusu (hide inside the box). The particle ni indicates the point where the object ends up being concealed.

彼は手紙をポケットに隠した。
(He hid the letter in his pocket.)

The potential form kakuseru (can hide) and the passive form kakusareru (to be hidden by someone) are also frequent. The passive form is particularly common in news reporting: shinjitsu ga kakusareta (the truth was hidden). Additionally, the causative form kakusaseru (make someone hide something) is used when one person forces another to keep a secret or conceal an object. Mastery of these variations allows for nuanced storytelling and reporting.

本当のことを隠さないでください。
(Please don't hide the truth.)

Compound Verbs: 隠す often appears in compounds. One notable example is mochi-kakusu (to carry and hide), though more common are idiomatic uses where kakusu follows a noun, like shiri-kakusu (to hide one's tracks/tail). Understanding how it pairs with other words broadens your expressive range.

雲が太陽を隠している。
(The clouds are hiding the sun.)

You will encounter 隠す in a myriad of daily and media-driven contexts in Japan. In a typical Japanese home, parents might use it when playing with children—think of games like 'hide and seek' (though the game is called kakurenbo, the act of hiding an object is kakusu). You'll also hear it in social settings where people discuss the importance of not being too boastful or 'hiding one's claws' (tsume o kakusu), an idiom referring to a wise person not showing off their talents until necessary.

In News and Media: Japanese news broadcasts frequently use 隠す when reporting on scandals or crimes. Phrases like shoko-inpei (hiding evidence) use a related kanji, but the verb kakusu is used in interviews: "Did you hide the money?" (お金を隠しましたか？). It's a staple word in legal dramas and detective series like 'Detective Conan' or 'Aibo'.
In Anime and Manga: Characters often have 'hidden powers' or 'hidden pasts'. You'll hear phrases like chikara o kakusu (hide one's power) when a protagonist is trying to live a normal life. In romantic subplots, characters often struggle with kimochi o kakusu (hiding their feelings), leading to the classic 'tsundere' or shy character archetypes.
Daily Conversations: When someone is being mysterious or acting suspiciously, a friend might ask, "What are you hiding?" (何を隠しているの？). It's also used in cooking, such as kakushi-aji (hidden flavor), referring to a secret ingredient that enhances the dish without being obvious.

能ある鷹は爪を隠す。
(A skilled hawk hides its talons. / A wise man hides his talents.)

The word also appears in weather reports. When clouds cover the moon or the sun, the verb 隠す is used to describe the atmospheric obstruction. In literature, it's used to describe the landscape, like a mist hiding a mountain. This broad range of application—from the kitchen to the cosmos—makes it one of the most useful verbs to master for anyone aiming for B1 level proficiency and beyond.

彼は何かを隠している顔をしていた。
(He had a look on his face like he was hiding something.)

Learning 隠す comes with a few common pitfalls, primarily revolving around the transitive vs. intransitive distinction and the nuances of similar-sounding words. Many English speakers struggle with the concept of paired verbs in Japanese, and kakusu/kakureru is a classic example. Mistaking these two can lead to sentences that sound very strange to a native speaker.

Confusing Transitive and Intransitive: The most common error is using 隠す when you mean 'to hide oneself.' If you want to say "I hid behind the tree," you must use kakureru (intransitive). If you say ki no ushiro ni kakushita, a Japanese person will ask, "What did you hide there?" because 隠す requires an object. Always remember: 隠す is for things you hide; kakureru is for when the subject itself is hidden.
Particle Misuse: Because 隠す is transitive, it always takes the particle を (o) for the object. Students sometimes use ga by mistake, especially when translating 'the truth is hidden' directly from English. In Japanese, if you use 隠す, you need an actor: kare ga shinjitsu o kakushita. If you want to say 'the truth is hidden' (state), you'd use shinjitsu ga kakurete iru or the passive kakusarete iru.

❌ 私はドアの後ろに隠した。
✅ 私はドアの後ろに隠れた。
(The first says 'I hid [something] behind the door.' The second says 'I hid behind the door.')

Another mistake is overusing 隠す for 'to cover.' While 隠す can mean to conceal by covering, if the primary action is simply placing a lid or a cloth over something without the intent to keep it secret, oou (to cover) or kabuseru (to put over) are more appropriate. For example, you 'cover' a sleeping child with a blanket (moufu o kabuseru), but you 'hide' a stain on the carpet with a rug (shimi o rug de kakusu).

❌ 恥ずかしくて、布団を隠した。
✅ 恥ずかしくて、布団を被った。
(The first means 'I hid the futon.' The second means 'I pulled the futon over my head.')

To truly master Japanese, you need to know when to use 隠す and when a more specific synonym is better. Japanese has several words for 'hiding' or 'covering,' each with its own flavor and context. Choosing the right one shows a high level of linguistic sensitivity.

隠す (Kakusu) vs. 覆う (Oou): While 隠す emphasizes the result (it can't be seen), oou emphasizes the physical act of covering the entire surface. You might oou a table with a cloth, but you kakusu a secret letter under the cloth. Oou is more neutral, while 隠す often implies intent.
隠す (Kakusu) vs. 秘める (Himeru): Himeru is a more literary and poetic word. It is used for things kept deep inside the heart or mind, like 'hidden potential' or 'a secret passion.' While you can use kakusu for feelings, himeru sounds more sophisticated and internalized. Example: mune ni himeta omoi (feelings hidden in one's chest).
隠す (Kakusu) vs. 潜める (Hisomeru): Hisomeru is used for making oneself or something inconspicuous or quiet. It's often used with breath (iki o hisomeru - to hold one's breath) or voice (koe o hisomeru - to lower one's voice). It's a type of hiding that focuses on being 'low-profile' rather than just out of sight.

彼女は悲しみを笑顔の裏に隠した。
(She hid her sadness behind a smile.)

In summary, 隠す is the 'all-purpose' verb for hiding. It is safe to use in almost any situation where something is being kept out of sight. However, as you advance, try to incorporate himeru for deep emotions or hisomeru for stealthy actions to add more color to your Japanese.

その島は霧に覆われていた。
(The island was covered/shrouded in mist.)

How Formal Is It?

재미있는 사실

The kanji 隠 includes the radical for 'mound' or 'wall' on the left (阝), suggesting a physical barrier that prevents seeing what is behind it.

발음 가이드

UK /kɑː.kuː.suː/

US /kɑ.ku.su/

Atamadaka (Initial stress) or Heiban (Flat), depending on context, but generally flat in modern Tokyo speech.

라임이 맞는 단어

Kasu (to lend) Nasu (to do/eggplant) Tasu (to add) Dasu (to put out) Kasu (dregs) Pasu (pass) Masu (polite suffix) Wasu (rare)

자주 하는 실수

Pronouncing 'su' too strongly at the end of a sentence (it should be almost silent: 'kakus').
Stress on the wrong syllable.
Elongating the 'u' sounds.

난이도

독해 3/5

The kanji is common but has many strokes. Recognizable at N3/B1 level.

쓰기 4/5

Writing '隠' from memory can be tricky due to the complex right side.

말하기 2/5

The pronunciation is straightforward, but the transitive/intransitive choice is key.

듣기 2/5

Very common in anime and news, easily heard.

다음에 무엇을 배울까

선수 학습

見る (Miru - To see) 見せる (Miseru - To show) 出す (Dasu - To put out) 秘密 (Himitsu - Secret) 物 (Mono - Thing)

다음에 배울 것

隠れる (Kakureru - To hide [intransitive]) 覆う (Oou - To cover) 遮る (Saegiru - To block) 避ける (Sakeru - To avoid) 黙る (Damaru - To be silent)

고급

隠蔽 (Inpei - Concealment) 隠遁 (Inton - Retirement/Seclusion) 秘匿 (Hitoku - Concealment) 蟄居 (Chikkyo - Confinement/Seclusion)

알아야 할 문법

Transitive vs. Intransitive Pairs

隠す (Transitive) vs. 隠れる (Intransitive)

Godan Verb Conjugation (Su-ending)

Kakusu -> Kakusanai, Kakushimasu, Kakushita

Te-form for State/Result

隠しておいてください (Please keep it hidden)

Passive for Unavoidable Actions

月が雲に隠された (The moon was hidden by the clouds)

Potential form

本心は隠せない (True feelings cannot be hidden)

무료 가입하고 전체 설명 읽기

수준별 예문

おもちゃをかばんに隠す。

I hide the toy in the bag.

Simple transitive use: Object (toy) + o + kakusu.

手を後ろに隠した。

I hid my hands behind my back.

Past tense: kakushita.

どこにお菓子を隠しましたか？

Where did you hide the sweets?

Polite question form: kakushimashita ka.

顔を隠さないで。

Don't hide your face.

Negative request: kakusanai de (kudasai).

彼は本を隠す。

He hides the book.

Basic present tense.

猫がえさを隠した。

The cat hid its food.

Subject (cat) + ga.

鍵を隠してください。

Please hide the key.

Request form: -te kudasai.

何も隠していません。

I'm not hiding anything.

Present progressive negative: -te imasen.

友達に秘密を隠している。

I am hiding a secret from my friend.

Abstract object: himitsu (secret).

恥ずかしくて顔を隠した。

I was embarrassed, so I hid my face.

Reasoning: -te form (hazukashikute).

テストの点数を親に隠す。

I hide my test score from my parents.

Target person: ni (parents).

箱の中にプレゼントを隠しましょう。

Let's hide the present inside the box.

Volitional form: -mashou.

彼はいつも本心を隠す。

He always hides his true feelings.

Adverb: itsumo (always).

手紙を誰にも見つからない場所に隠した。

I hid the letter in a place where no one would find it.

Relative clause describing the location.

太陽が雲に隠された。

The sun was hidden by the clouds.

Passive voice: kakusareta.

証拠を隠してはいけません。

You must not hide the evidence.

Prohibition: -te wa ikemasen.

彼女は悲しみを隠して、明るく振る舞った。

She hid her sadness and acted cheerfully.

Compound action: kakushite + furumatta.

真実を隠すのは、もう限界だ。

I've reached my limit with hiding the truth.

Nominalization: kakusu no wa.

彼は自分の過去を隠したがっている。

He seems to want to hide his past.

Desire for third person: -tagatte iru.

能ある鷹は爪を隠すという。

They say a skilled hawk hides its talons.

Idiom usage.

料理の隠し味に味噌を使う。

I use miso as a secret ingredient (hidden flavor) in the dish.

Compound noun: kakushi-aji.

犯人は凶器を森の中に隠したようだ。

It seems the criminal hid the weapon in the forest.

Conjecture: -you da.

その建物は高い木に隠れて見えない。

That building is hidden by tall trees and can't be seen.

Note: This uses 'kakurete' (intransitive) for state comparison.

自分の弱さを隠すために、彼は威張っている。

He is acting bossy to hide his own weakness.

Purpose: -tame ni.

企業が不祥事を隠すことは、社会的に許されない。

It is socially unacceptable for a company to hide a scandal.

Formal subject: kigyou (corporation).

彼は驚きを隠しきれなかった。

He couldn't completely hide his surprise.

Potential suffix: -kiru (to do completely) + potential negative.

政府は情報を意図的に隠しているのではないか。

Isn't the government intentionally hiding information?

Rhetorical question: -no dewa nai ka.

その女優は年齢を隠さず、堂々と公表している。

That actress doesn't hide her age and announces it proudly.

Negative adverbial: -zu (without hiding).

霧が山頂を隠してしまい、景色が見えない。

The mist has completely hidden the mountain peak, so we can't see the view.

Regret/Completion: -te shimau.

彼は巧みな言葉で本音を隠した。

He hid his true intentions with skillful words.

Means/Method: -de (with words).

証拠を隠滅しようとする行為は罪になる。

The act of trying to destroy/hide evidence is a crime.

Formal noun: inpei/inmetsu.

母親は子供に心配をかけまいと、病気を隠していた。

The mother was hiding her illness so as not to worry her child.

Negative intention: -mai to.

詩人は言葉の裏に深い意味を隠し持っている。

The poet hides deep meaning behind their words.

Compound verb: kakushi-motsu (to possess secretly).

その古都は、長い歴史の影に多くの謎を隠している。

That ancient capital hides many mysteries in the shadows of its long history.

Metaphorical usage.

彼女の微笑みは、冷徹な野心を隠す仮面に過ぎなかった。

Her smile was nothing more than a mask to hide her cold ambition.

Metaphor: kamen (mask).

真実を隠蔽しようとする組織の体質が問われている。

The nature of the organization that tries to conceal the truth is being questioned.

Abstract noun: taishitsu (predisposition/nature).

沈黙は、時に雄弁よりも多くのことを隠し、また語る。

Silence sometimes hides and tells more than eloquence.

Philosophical contrast.

彼は自らの出自を隠し通すために、嘘を重ねた。

He piled lie upon lie to hide his origins to the end.

Suffix: -toosu (to do until the end).

夕闇が街の喧騒を優しく隠していった。

The evening darkness gradually hid the bustle of the city gently.

Directional: -te iku (gradual change).

その文章には、作者の意図が巧妙に隠されている。

The author's intention is cleverly hidden within those sentences.

Adverb: koumyou ni (cleverly).

存在そのものが虚飾に隠され、実体が見えない。

Existence itself is hidden by ostentation, making the substance invisible.

Philosophical terminology: kyoshoku (ostentation).

歴史の編纂において、不都合な事実はしばしば隠蔽の憂き目に遭う。

In the compilation of history, inconvenient facts often suffer the fate of being concealed.

Idiom: uki-me ni au (to have a bitter experience).

言霊は、語られぬ部分にこそ真の力を隠し宿している。

The spirit of language hides its true power precisely in what is left unsaid.

Archaic/Poetic: kotodama.

自然の摂理は、我々の理解を超えた深淵にその真理を隠している。

The providence of nature hides its truth in an abyss beyond our understanding.

Academic: setsuri (providence).

記号論的な観点から言えば、表現は常に何かを隠すと同時に開示する。

From a semiotic perspective, expression always hides something while simultaneously disclosing it.

Technical: kigouron (semiotics).

政治的な意図が、美辞麗句の裏に巧妙に隠蔽されている。

Political intentions are cleverly concealed behind flowery language.

Idiom: biji-reiku (flowery words).

自己のアイデンティティを隠し続けることは、精神的な摩耗を強いる。

Continuing to hide one's identity forces psychological attrition.

Psychological context.

宇宙の膨張は、観測不可能な領域に多くの銀河を隠し去っていく。

The expansion of the universe hides away many galaxies in unobservable regions.

Scientific context: -saru (to go away).

자주 쓰는 조합

秘密を隠す

顔を隠す

本心を隠す

証拠を隠す

姿を隠す

隠し味

隠し事

爪を隠す

跡を隠す

正体を隠す

자주 쓰는 구문

隠しきれない

— Cannot hide completely. Used for emotions that show on the face.

喜びが隠しきれない。

隠すところがない

— Nothing to hide. Used for honesty or transparent situations.

私には隠すところなど何もない。

隠そうとする

— To try to hide. Often implies a failed or suspicious attempt.

彼はミスを隠そうとした。

隠し持っている

— To possess secretly. Used for weapons, money, or talents.

彼はナイフを隠し持っていた。

隠し立てする

— To keep a secret or be secretive. Often used in negative sentences.

隠し立てせずに全部話して。

姿を隠す

— To disappear or go into hiding.

彼は突然姿を隠した。

事実を隠す

— To hide the facts. Used in journalism and law.

会社は重大な事実を隠していた。

名前を隠す

— To hide one's name/remain anonymous.

名前を隠して寄付をする。

年齢を隠す

— To hide one's age.

彼女はいつも年齢を隠している。

弱みを隠す

— To hide one's weakness.

リーダーは弱みを隠すべきだと思っている。

자주 혼동되는 단어

隠す vs 隠れる (Kakureru)

Intransitive. Means 'to hide oneself' or 'to be hidden.' You cannot use an object with this.

隠す vs 覆う (Oou)

Focuses on the physical covering of a surface, not necessarily the intent to keep it secret.

隠す vs 秘める (Himeru)

More literary and internal. Used for feelings kept deep inside.

관용어 및 표현

"能ある鷹は爪を隠す"

— A skilled hawk hides its talons. A truly talented person doesn't show off.

彼は謙虚だが、能ある鷹は爪を隠すという通り、実力者だ。

Proverb

"尻を隠して頭隠さず"

— Hiding the tail but not the head. Concealing only part of a secret while the rest is obvious.

彼の嘘はすぐバレた。頭隠して尻隠さずだね。

Proverb

"隠れた名所"

— A hidden famous spot. A place that is great but not well-known.

ここは地元の人しか知らない隠れた名所だ。

Common Expression

"隠し芸"

— A hidden talent or parlor trick shown at parties.

忘年会で隠し芸を披露する。

Social

"隠しマイク"

— A hidden microphone (bug).

隠しマイクで会話を録音する。

Technical

"隠し絵"

— A picture puzzle where objects are hidden within the drawing.

子供と一緒に隠し絵を探す。

General

"隠し扉"

— A secret door.

本棚の裏に隠し扉がある。

Fiction

"隠し金"

— Secret money or hoarded cash.

床下に隠し金を見つけた。

General

"隠し子"

— An illegitimate child whose existence was kept secret.

有名人に隠し子がいることが発覚した。

Social/Gossip

"隠し事はない"

— To have no secrets between each other.

私たちは親友だから、隠し事はない。

Interpersonal

혼동하기 쉬운

隠す vs 被せる (Kabuseru)

Both involve putting something over something else.

Kabuseru means to put a lid or cover on top. Kakusu means to make something invisible.

鍋に蓋を被せる (Put a lid on the pot) vs. 傷を隠す (Hide a wound).

隠す vs 仕舞う (Shimau)

Both involve putting things away.

Shimau means to put something in its proper storage place. Kakusu means to hide it so others can't see it.

服を仕舞う (Put away clothes) vs. 宝物を隠す (Hide a treasure).

隠す vs 潜める (Hisomeru)

Both mean to conceal.

Hisomeru is specifically for making sounds or one's presence very quiet and subtle.

声を潜める (Lower one's voice).

隠す vs 伏せる (Fuseru)

Both can mean to keep secret.

Fuseru often means to turn something face down (like a card) or to withhold a name/detail.

名前を伏せる (Withhold the name).

隠す vs 遮る (Saegiru)

Both involve blocking view.

Saegiru is the act of interrupting or blocking a path/light. Kakusu is the result of the object being gone from sight.

光を遮る (Block the light).

문장 패턴

[Object] を隠す

お菓子を隠す。

[Location] に [Object] を隠す

机の下に本を隠す。

[Emotion] を隠して [Action]

悲しみを隠して笑う。

[Object] を隠さないでください

本当のことを隠さないでください。

[Object] を隠しきれない

驚きを隠しきれなかった。

[Object] が [Agent] に隠される

真実が組織に隠される。

[Object] を隠し持つ

ナイフを隠し持っている。

[Object] を隠し去る

時間がすべてを隠し去る。

어휘 가족

명사

隠し (Kakushi - Hiding/Secret)

隠し事 (Kakushigoto - Secret)

隠れ家 (Kakurega - Hideout)

隠蔽 (Inpei - Concealment)

동사

隠れる (Kakureru - To hide [intransitive])

隠し持つ (Kakushimotsu - To possess secretly)

隠し通す (Kakushitoosu - To hide until the end)

형용사

隠れた (Kakureta - Hidden/Obscure)

사용법

frequency

Extremely high in both spoken and written Japanese.

자주 하는 실수

Using 'kakusu' for 'to hide oneself'. → Watashi wa doa no ushiro ni kakureta.
Kakusu is transitive and requires an object. Kakureru is intransitive for the subject hiding.
Using 'ga' for the object of 'kakusu'. → Shinjitsu o kakusu.
Transitive verbs in the active voice take 'o'.
Using 'kakusu' for covering someone with a blanket. → Moufu o kakeru.
Kakusu implies making something invisible or secret, which sounds odd for a blanket unless you are hiding the person.
Confusing 'kakusu' with 'kesu' (to erase). → Kakusu (hide) vs. Kesu (erase).
Hiding means it's still there but unseen. Erasing means it's gone.
Incorrect te-form 'kakutte'. → Kakushite.
For verbs ending in 'su', the te-form is always '-shite'.

팁

Particle Check

Always use 'o' for the thing being hidden. If you use 'ga', you probably meant 'kakureru'.

Honne and Tatemae

In Japan, 'hiding' your true feelings (honne) is often seen as a social virtue to maintain harmony (wa).

Cooking Secrets

Impress your Japanese friends by asking what the 'kakushi-aji' (hidden flavor) of their dish is.

Kanji Stroke Order

The right side of '隠' is complex. Practice it carefully; it's the same right side as in 'steady' (穏).

Whispered Endings

In 'kakusu', the final 'u' is often nearly silent. Practice saying 'kakus' for a more native-like accent.

Cactus Hideout

Imagine hiding a 'Stuff' behind a 'Cactus'. Kakusu = Stuff (Transitive).

Potential Form

Use 'kakushi-kirenai' (cannot hide completely) when talking about obvious joy or sadness.

Don't Hide Yourself!

Never say 'Watashi wa kakushita' if you mean 'I hid'. That means 'I hid [something]'.

News Keywords

Look for '隠蔽' (inpei) in news headlines—it's the formal cousin of 'kakusu'.

Hide and Seek

The game is 'Kakurenbo', but the act of finding a hidden object is 'kakusu' related.

암기하기

기억법

Think of 'Kakusu' as 'Cactus'. If you want to hide, you might hide behind a giant cactus. Just don't get poked while you 'kakusu' your body!

시각적 연상

Imagine a magician's hat. The magician 'kakusu' (hides) a rabbit inside the hat before the show starts.

Word Web

Secret Mask Shadow Drawer Pocket Embarrassment Evidence Clouds

챌린지

Try to find three things in your room you can 'kakusu' and describe where you put them using the sentence pattern: [Object] o [Location] ni kakushita.

어원

Derived from the Old Japanese word 'kaku', which meant to scratch or cover. The 'su' is a verbalizing suffix common in many transitive verbs.

원래 의미: To cover something up or put it in a corner.

Japonic

문화적 맥락

Be careful when accusing someone of 'kakusu' (hiding something), as it can be a strong accusation of dishonesty. Use softer terms if you are just asking for information.

In English-speaking cultures, 'hiding' can often imply guilt or dishonesty. In Japanese, it is more frequently associated with social etiquette and modesty.

The idiom 'No aru taka wa tsume o kakusu' (The wise hawk hides its claws). The 'Hidden Leaf Village' (Konohagakure) in Naruto uses the related kanji. Detective Conan often features 'kakushi-tobira' (secret doors) and 'kakushi-basho' (hiding places).

실생활에서 연습하기

실제 사용 상황

Family Secrets

親に隠す (Hide from parents)
秘密を隠す (Hide a secret)
隠し事をする (Keep secrets)
本当のことを隠す (Hide the truth)

Crime/Detective

証拠を隠す (Hide evidence)
凶器を隠す (Hide the weapon)
正体を隠す (Hide identity)
姿を隠す (Disappear)

Weather

雲が太陽を隠す (Clouds hide the sun)
霧が山を隠す (Mist hides the mountain)
暗闇が隠す (Darkness hides)
遮って隠す (Block and hide)

Emotions

悲しみを隠す (Hide sadness)
驚きを隠す (Hide surprise)
本心を隠す (Hide true feelings)
笑顔で隠す (Hide with a smile)

Cooking

隠し味を入れる (Add a secret ingredient)
隠し包丁を入れる (Make hidden cuts)
味を隠す (Mask a flavor)
臭みを隠す (Hide a smell)

대화 시작하기

"何か私に隠していることはありますか？ (Is there anything you are hiding from me?)"

"子供の頃、どこにお菓子を隠しましたか？ (Where did you hide sweets when you were a child?)"

"自分の本心を隠すのは得意ですか？ (Are you good at hiding your true feelings?)"

"この料理の隠し味は何だと思いますか？ (What do you think is the secret ingredient in this dish?)"

"秘密を隠し通すのは難しいと思いますか？ (Do you think it's difficult to keep a secret to the end?)"

일기 주제

今日、自分の感情を隠した瞬間がありましたか？なぜ隠しましたか？ (Was there a moment today when you hid your emotions? Why?)

大切に隠している宝物について書いてください。 (Write about a treasure you keep hidden carefully.)

「能ある鷹は爪を隠す」という言葉について、どう思いますか？ (What do you think about the proverb 'A skilled hawk hides its talons'?)

もし誰にも見つからない隠れ家を作れるなら、どこに作りますか？ (If you could make a hideout no one could find, where would you make it?)

社会の中で真実を隠すことは、時に必要だと思いますか？ (Do you think it's sometimes necessary to hide the truth in society?)

자주 묻는 질문

10 질문

No, you should use 'kakureru' for that. 'Kakusu' needs an object. You could say 'I hid the bag behind the door' (Bag o doa no ushiro ni kakushita), but for yourself, it's 'Doa no ushiro ni kakureta'.

'Himitsu o kakusu' means to actively keep the secret out of sight or unknown. 'Himitsu o mamoru' means to protect or keep the secret (loyalty). Usually, they are used in similar contexts, but 'kakusu' sounds more like you are obstructing the truth.

No, it's used for any cuisine. It refers to that 'secret ingredient' that makes a dish special without being the main flavor. For example, adding coffee to chocolate cake is a 'kakushi-aji'.

You can use '正体を隠す' (shoutai o kakusu) to hide one's true identity, or '本性を隠す' (honshou o kakusu) to hide one's true nature.

It is a neutral word. Like any verb, it becomes polite when you use the '-masu' form (kakushimasu).

Yes, it's very common. 'Kumo ga tsuki o kakusu' (The clouds hide the moon). It describes the physical obstruction of the celestial body.

It comes from the proverb 'No aru taka wa tsume o kakusu.' It means a person who is truly capable or talented does not feel the need to show off or brag about it.

Usually, 'kabuseru' or 'kakeru' is used for blankets. 'Kakusu' would imply you are trying to hide the baby so no one can find them!

'Kakusu' is a general verb. 'Inpei' is a formal noun/suru-verb specifically for covering up negative things like scandals or evidence in a professional context.

Since it is a Godan verb ending in 'su', you change 'su' to 'se' and add 'ru'. So, 'kakuseru'.

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