How to say "secret" in Japanese

• 秘密ひみつJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveThe default word for a secret as information kept from others: personal secrets, confidential matters, privacy. If you mean 'keep a secret' or 'it's a secret', this is the word you want.
  私は彼女かのじょに取り入とりいってうまく秘密ひみつを聞き出ききだした。↗

  I charmed a secret out of her.
• 秘訣ひけつCommon
  nounNot a hidden fact but the secret of doing something: the trick, knack, or key to success in an art or trade. Use it for 'the secret of good cooking', not for information you hide.
  おいしいジャムを作つくる秘訣ひけつを教おしえてください。↗

  Please tell me the secret to making good jam.
• 密かひそかJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveDescribes actions or feelings kept out of others' sight: a surreptitious meeting, a private wish. It paints the manner of doing something, rather than naming a secret as a thing.
  彼かれはひそかにあなたの財産ざいさんを狙ねらっていますよ。↗

  He has designs on your property.
• シークレットCommon
  nounThe English loanword, used where an English-flavored word fits: titles, product and brand names, casual stylish usage. For ordinary sentences about keeping a secret, 秘密 is the natural choice.
• 隠密おんみつCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveFor covert, stealthy activity rather than a secret fact: moving or operating so as not to be seen, as in undercover work or spying. It describes the hidden manner of the action.

Use 秘密 for a secret as hidden information, 秘訣 for the secret of doing something well, 「密か」 for actions kept hidden, 「シークレット」 for the English loanword, and 隠密 for covert, stealthy activity.

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

• 秘密ひみつsecret
• 秘訣ひけつsecret (method, trick, etc.)
• 密かひそかsecret
• シークレットsecret
• 隠密おんみつsecret
• 秘伝ひでんsecret (recipe, medicine, etc.)
• 神秘しんぴmystery
• 非公開ひこうかいprivate
• 内緒ないしょsecrecy
• 内々うちうちprivate
• 隠し事かくしごとsecret
• 秘事ひじsecret
• 内分ないぶんsecret
• 秘め事ひめごとsecret
• 密事みつじsecret
• 密か事みそかごとsecret
• 秘めやかひめやかsecret
• 奥許しおくゆるしsecret
• 奥妙おうみょうsecret
• 人知れぬひとしれぬsecret
• 内聞ないぶんsecret
• 内緒事ないしょごとsecret
• マル秘まるひconfidential
• 忍びやかしのびやかstealthy
• 隠然いんぜんlatent
• こつknack
• 要諦ようてい(most) important point
• 地下ちかunderground (activities, movement, etc.)
• 呼吸こきゅうknack
• 奥の手おくのてsecret skills
• 袖下そでしたsecret
• たねmechanism (of a magic trick, etc.)
• ねた(magician's) trick
• 密みつsecret