変装
hensō[hẽ̞ɰ̃so̞ː]
The Japanese word for disguise is 変装 (hensō).
変装 refers to attire used to hide or assume a different identity.
Meaning: attire to hide/assume an identity (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 変 (hen), meaning 'change' or 'strange' and 装 (sō), meaning 'attire' or 'equipment'.
Which one should you use?
While 変装 implies a disguise used to hide one's true identity, the word 仮装 refers to wearing a costume for fun or a party, such as for Halloween.
How does it change in a sentence?
The continuous form 変装している is used to describe the state of someone currently wearing a disguise.
How do you pronounce it?
hensō
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific term, 擬態 (gitai), for 'disguise' when it refers to animals blending into their environment. Using 変装 for a chameleon would sound like the animal is intentionally wearing a costume.
- The kanji 変 in 変装 can also be read as hen, which describes something 'strange' or 'weird'. This creates a linguistic link between the act of disguising oneself and the act of becoming strange.
- In many Japanese detective novels and anime, a character's 変装 is often revealed not by a slip of the tongue, but by a specific 'tell' or habit they cannot hide, a trope known as 癖 (kuse).
Examples in context
- これで変装しろ。Disguise yourself with this.Tatoeba #10913687 by small_snow, translation #10913688 by CK
- その汚い少年は変装した王子だとわかった。The dirty boy turned out to be a prince in disguise.Tatoeba #212186 by huizi99, translation #49465 by CK
- ボブは変装していたけれども、一目で彼と分かった。Although Bob was in disguise, I recognized him at a glance.This sentence demonstrates using the continuous form of 変装 to describe a person's state.Tatoeba #195984 by arnab, translation #33159 by orcrist
- 彼は変装してパーティーに現れた。He appeared at the party in disguise.
- 私たちは変な格好で仮装パーティーに行った。We went to the costume party in weird outfits.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a costume party.
- 美咲 Misaki健太、パーティーの変装は何にするの？Kenta, pātī no hensō wa nani ni suru no?Kenta, what are you going to use for your disguise for the party?
- 健太 Kentaまだ決めてないよ。美咲はどうするの？Mada kimete nai yo. Misaki wa dō suru no?I haven't decided yet. What about you, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misaki私は完璧な変装で驚かせたいな。Watashi wa kanpeki na hensō de odorakasetai na.I want to surprise everyone with a perfect disguise.
- 健太 Kentaそれは楽しみだね。Sore wa tanoshimi da ne.I'm looking forward to that.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “disguise” translations and entries 変装, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
