How to say "disguise" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 変装へんそうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe core word for disguising yourself — changing your clothes or appearance so you look like someone or something else; matches the masquerade side of 'disguise'.
- 変身へんしんnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbPrimarily transformation, metamorphosis or shapeshifting — a change of form or appearance. For 'disguise' it is marginal: it points to the change itself, not the act of concealing identity.
- 偽装ぎそうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbDisguise in the sense of concealing something's true identity or nature, including camouflage and deception; the emphasis is on hiding what something really is.
- 覆面ふくめんsuru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveDisguise by covering the face — a mask or veil. It hides who you are behind a mask rather than changing your whole appearance, so it is narrower than a full disguise.
- 迷彩めいさいnounReally camouflage — the pattern or practice of blending in — rather than disguise in the everyday sense; seldom the word you want when talking about disguising yourself as someone else.
Use 変装 for disguising yourself as someone else, 偽装 for concealing identity or true nature, 覆面 for masking the face, 迷彩 for camouflage, and 変身 mainly for transformation rather than disguise.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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