How to say "privately" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 水入らずでみずいらずでexpressionCovers 'privately' in the sense of a gathering closed to outsiders, typically family or an intimate circle; the gloss 'en famille' points to occasions like a small family celebration held just among their own.
- 密々みつみつadverbCovers 'privately' meaning secretly, between a few people and hidden from others. It suggests discreet, quiet dealings rather than a cozy family occasion, and as a less common word it is often better rendered simply as 'secretly'.
- 内密にないみつにadverbCovers 'privately' as 'confidentially' or 'off the record' — handling a matter discreetly so it does not become public knowledge, as in consulting someone quietly about a personal or business affair.
- 陰にいんにadverbCovers 'privately' in the sense of doing something invisibly or out of public view, behind the scenes. Its core meaning is 'secretly' or 'invisibly', so it fits hidden behind-the-scenes action more than a merely private setting.
Choose 「水入らずで」 for a private family or closed-circle gathering, 密々 or 「内密に」 for secret or confidential matters, and 「陰に」 for acting privately behind the scenes rather than openly.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
