How to say "cover" in Japanese

• カバーJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe general-purpose noun for a cover or covering, including a book's dust jacket or wrapper. When English 'cover' is a noun and no more specific word fits, this is the default choice.
  その本ほんのカバーにはインクのしみがいくつかあった。↗

  There were some ink spots on the book jacket.
• 蓋ふたJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA cover in the sense of a lid or cap: the removable top of a pot, bottle, or similar container. Use it for this sense only, not for covers in general.
  このふたはあのジャーのふただ。↗

  This lid belongs with that jar.
• 埋めるうずめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbA verb whose 'cover' sense is that of burying or submerging, as in burying one's face in one's hands. It is not the plain, general verb for covering something; for that, 覆う is the word.
  けいこは枕まくらに顔かおをうずめて泣ないた。↗

  Keiko buried her head in the pillow and cried.
• 覆うおおうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe general verb 'to cover': to spread something over an object or surface so that it is hidden, with the further senses of hiding, concealing, and wrapping.
  机つくえはほこりで覆おおわれている。↗

  The desk is covered with dust.
• 表紙ひょうしJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe cover of a book, magazine, or similar publication, as opposed to a loose dust jacket, which falls under カバー. It also means the binding.
  彼かれは手てを伸のばして小ちいさな皮かわ表紙ひょうしの本ほんをとった。↗

  He reached out and took down a small leather bound book.

For a book or magazine use 表紙, for a lid or cap 蓋, for a general covering or dust jacket 「カバー」; as verbs, 「覆う」 is the general 'to cover', while 「埋める」 means to cover by burying or submerging.

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

• カバーcover
• 蓋ふたcover
• 埋めるうずめるto cover
• 覆うおおうto cover
• 表紙ひょうしcover (of a book, magazine, etc.)
• かぶせるto cover (with something)
• まかなうto supply (goods, money, etc.)
• 覆いおおいcover
• 物陰ものかげplace hidden from view
• 塞ぐふさぐto stop up
• 補うおぎなうto supplement
• まぶすto cover (with)
• 被すかぶすto cover (with something)
• かくれみのcover (e.g. for illegal activity)
• 掩蓋えんがいcover(ing)
• 掩蔽えんぺいcover
• 上表紙うわびょうしcover
• 上覆うわおおいcover
• 上包みうわづつみcover
• 覆われおおわれcover (e.g. of snow, trees, etc.)
• 蓋をするふたをするto cover (a hole, a saucepan)
• かぶさるto hang over
• 覆い隠すおおいかくすto mask
• 覆い被さるおおいかぶさるto hang over
• 膳部ぜんぶfood (on a table; esp. a small Japanese table)
• 押っ被せるおっかぶせるto put a thing on top of another
• 遮蔽物しゃへいぶつshelter
• 堰板せきいたsheeting
• 押っ被さるおっかぶさるto hang over
• 埋け込むいけこむto bury (e.g. in ash, snow, earth)
• 覆ふくconcealment (of one's vices)
• 上蓋うわぶたlid (of a box, container, etc.)
• 塞げるふさげるto close up
• かけるto put on (e.g. a blanket)
• 押さえるおさえるto cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand)
• 包むつつむto cover
• わたるto extend
• 着せるきせるto cover
• 被覆ひふくcover
• 閉ざすとざすto shut in (with snow, ice, etc.)
• 上掛けうわがけcover (for a kotatsu quilt)
• 鎧うよろうto wear
• 証拠金しょうこきんmargin (payment)
• 敷物しきものspread
• かかるto overlap (e.g. information in a manual)
• 表おもてcover (for tatami mats, etc.)
• 扱うあつかうto cover (a topic)
• 埋めるうめるto cover
• 取り上げるとりあげるto report (news)