How to say "veil" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

ベールCommon
nounCovers the literal veil: a lightweight covering worn over the head or face, such as a bridal or mourning veil, and by extension a thin concealing cover. This loanword is the usual choice for this sense.
会議かいぎは秘密ひみつのベールに包つつまれていた。↗
The conference was cloaked in secrecy.
覆面ふくめんJLPT N1approx.Common
suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectivePrimarily means a mask or disguise covering the face, as worn to hide one's identity; 'veil' is only a secondary gloss. It is seldom the word you want for a bridal or head veil—it really denotes masking the face.
覆面ふくめんをした男おとこ達たちが旅客りょかくを襲おそって金きんを奪うばった。↗
Masked men held up the passengers and robbed them of their money.

Use 「ベール」 for the literal garment or cover worn over the face or head; use 覆面 mainly for a mask or disguise, and treat its 'veil' sense as secondary.

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

Japanese equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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