How to say "conceal" in Japanese

• 隠すかくすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe broad, general verb for hiding or concealing — objects, facts, feelings. Choose it whenever you simply mean that something is kept from being seen or known.
  私は母ははがケーキを隠かくすのを見みた。↗

  I saw my mother hide the cake.
• 覆うおおうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbIts core sense is to cover something over, so it matches 'conceal' when the hiding is done by covering; for keeping facts or feelings hidden it is seldom the word you want.
  机つくえはほこりで覆おおわれている。↗

  The desk is covered with dust.
• 紛らすまぎらすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbA narrow verb: it means masking an emotion such as grief by distracting from it, as with a smile, or diverting a conversation. Not a general word for concealing things or information.

Choose 「隠す」 for the general sense of hiding things or keeping facts and feelings secret; 「覆う」 is really about covering something over, and 「紛らす」 only about masking feelings or diverting talk.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 隠すかくすto hide
• 覆うおおうto cover
• 潜めるひそめるto hide
• 忍ばせるしのばせるto conceal
• くらますto conceal (oneself)
• 包み隠すつつみかくすto conceal
• 秘するひするto keep secret
• 覆い隠すおおいかくすto mask
• 包むつつむto conceal (a feeling)
• 紛らすまぎらすto conceal (e.g. one's grief with a smile)
• 紛らわすまぎらわすto conceal (e.g. one's grief with a smile)
• 紛らせるまぎらせるto conceal (e.g. one's grief with a smile)
• 飲むのむto carry (a concealed dagger, etc.)
• 伏せるふせるto conceal
• 伏すふすto conceal