How to say "hide" in Japanese

• 隠すかくすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo hide or conceal something other than yourself, such as an object, a fact, or one's feelings. The transitive counterpart of 隠れる, and the default verb when someone actively hides something.
  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.
• 隠れるかくれるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbTo hide oneself, take cover, or stay out of sight. The intransitive verb for the person doing the hiding, as when a child hides behind something or someone takes cover.
  子こどもは箱ばこの中なかに隠かくれていた。↗

  The child was hiding in the box.
• 皮かわJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThis is not a verb at all: it covers only the noun sense of 'hide', the skin of an animal. For the verb 'to hide' it is never the word you want; use 隠す or 隠れる instead.
  動物どうぶつの皮かわは毛けでおおわれている。↗

  The skin of animals is covered with hair.
• 覆うおおうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbPrimarily 'to cover' something, but the covering can hide what is underneath. Choose it when the sense of hiding comes from putting something over or enveloping, rather than concealment for its own sake.
  机つくえはほこりで覆おおわれている。↗

  The desk is covered with dust.
• 秘めるひめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbTo hide something by keeping it to oneself, typically feelings, intentions, or thoughts locked away inside. Suits inner, emotional concealment rather than physically hiding objects, where 隠す is the natural choice.
  彼女かのじょはその秘密ひみつを自分じぶんの胸むねひとつに秘ひめておいた。↗

  She kept the secret to herself.

English 'hide' splits into hiding oneself (「隠れる」), hiding something else (「隠す」), covering over (「覆う」), animal hide meaning 皮, and keeping feelings secret (「秘める」), so first decide which sense you mean.

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

• 隠すかくすto hide
• 隠れるかくれるto hide
• 皮かわskin
• 覆うおおうto cover
• 秘めるひめるto hide
• 忍ぶしのぶto conceal oneself
• 皮革ひかくleather
• 潜めるひそめるto hide
• 獣皮じゅうひhide
• 隠れ潜むかくれひそむto hide
• 姿を隠すすがたをかくすto hide
• 忍ばせるしのばせるto conceal
• くらますto conceal (oneself)
• 押し隠すおしかくすto keep (something) a close secret
• ふけるto run away (e.g. from work)
• 匿とくshelter
• かくまうto shelter (e.g. a fugitive)
• 覆い隠すおおいかくすto mask
• 包むつつむto conceal (a feeling)
• 囲うかこうto shelter (e.g. a criminal)
• 紛らすまぎらすto conceal (e.g. one's grief with a smile)
• 伏するふくするto hide
• 非表示ひひょうじto hide (window, etc.)
• 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)
• 伏せるふせるto conceal
• 伏すふすto conceal