隠す
kakusu[ka̠kɯ̟sɨ]
The Japanese verb for hide is 隠す (kakusu).
隠す is a transitive verb used when you are hiding an object or information from someone. For example, you can use it when talking about hiding true feelings or hiding a physical object like a cake.
Meaning: (intransitive) put oneself in a place where one will be harder to find (verb)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between 隠す and 隠れる. While 隠す is a transitive verb meaning 'to hide something', 隠れる is the intransitive form used when you are 'hiding oneself'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes its form depending on how it is used in a sentence: the past tense is 隠した (hid/hidden), the negative form is 隠さない (do not hide) and the te-form is 隠して, which can be used to connect sentences or function as a soft command.
How do you pronounce it?
kakusu
Did you know?
- The word 隠し味 ('kakushi-aji') literally means a 'hidden taste' and refers to a secret ingredient added to a dish to enhance the flavor without the eater knowing what it is.
- In Japanese, the concept of 'hiding' is closely tied to the word 本音 ('true sound'), which refers to a person's true feelings that they typically 隠す or hide from others to maintain social harmony.
- In traditional Japanese architecture, the concept of 隠し扉 ('kakushi-tobira') refers to hidden doors or panels, a feature famously used in ninja houses to create secret escape routes.
Examples in context
- 人は本音を隠すものだ。People hide their true feelings.This sentence is useful for showing how people hide their true feelings using 隠す.Tatoeba #11569730 by small_snow, translation #11761022 by end
- トムが何かを隠すのが見えた。I saw Tom hide something.This sentence shows the verb 隠す being used to describe seeing someone hide something.Tatoeba #8591133 by small_snow, translation #4538260 by Hybrid
- 私は母がケーキを隠すのを見た。I saw my mother hide the cake.This sentence shows the verb 隠す being used to describe seeing someone hide a cake.Tatoeba #152874 by bunbuku, translation #261672 by CK
- 秘密を隠すHide a secret
- ファイルを秘匿するHide the file (in a confidential manner)
- おもちゃを隠すHide a toy
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are playing hide-and-seek.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太、どこに隠すつもり？Yōta, doko ni kakusu tsumori?Yota, where do you plan to hide?
- 陽太 Yota秘密だよ。教えないよ。Himitsu dayo. Oshienai yo.It's a secret. I won't tell you.
- 美咲 Misakiいいよ、自分をうまく隠してね。Ii yo, jibun o umaku kakushite ne.Fine, make sure you hide yourself well.
- 陽太 Yota任せて。絶対に見つからないよ。Makasete. Zettai ni mitsukaranai yo.Leave it to me. You'll never find me.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 隠す, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
