囲う|かこうkakou[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto enclose; to surround; to encircle; to fence; to wall in
- godan verb, transitive verbto shelter (e.g. a criminal); to shield; to hide; to protect
- godan verb, transitive verbto keep (e.g. a mistress)
- godan verb, transitive verbto store (vegetables, fruit, etc.); to preserve
- godan verb, transitive verbto protect
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 囲う（かこう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 囲います（かこいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 囲わない（かこわない） |
| polite (masen) | 囲いません（かこいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 囲わず・囲わぬ（かこわず・かこわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 囲った（かこった） |
| polite (mashita) | 囲いました（かこいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 囲わなかった（かこわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 囲いませんでした（かこいませんでした） |
| Te form | 囲って（かこって） |
| Potential | 囲える（かこえる） |
| Passive | 囲われる（かこわれる） |
| Causative | 囲わせる（かこわせる） |
| Causative passive | 囲わせられる・囲わされる（かこわせられる・かこわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 囲えば（かこえば） |
| tara | 囲ったら（かこったら） |
| Volitional | 囲おう（かこおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 囲いましょう（かこいましょう） |
| Imperative | 囲え（かこえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym囲むかこむNeutralThe most versatile word for surrounding or encircling, e.g. 「食卓を囲む」; unlike 「囲う」, it does not imply protecting, hiding, or keeping a lover.
- Synonym取り巻くとりまくNeutralRings someone or something, but also means fawning on a person — hence 「取り巻き」, a swarm of flatterers.
- Related取り囲むとりかこむNeutralSurrounds completely on all sides — the subject may be a crowd, walls, or mountains; stronger in tone than 「囲む」.
- Related包囲ほういNeutralEncircles a target on all sides so it cannot easily escape; fits both military and police contexts, as in 「包囲網」.
- Related囲繞いじょうWrittenWritten word for encircling, rarely used; can describe mountains and waters ringing a place, and appears in the legal term 「囲繞地」.
- Antonym放すはなすNeutralTo let go or set free; the opposite of 「囲う」 in its sense of keeping something enclosed.
- Antonym解放するNeutralTo free someone from bonds or restraint; opposite of 「囲う」 when it means confining people and keeping them in.
Use 「囲う」 for fencing something in, sheltering or hiding it, or keeping a lover, as in 「庭を塀で囲う」. For ordinary surrounding pick 「囲む」, for being hemmed in on all sides 「取り囲む」, for a siege 「包囲」; the opposite is 「放す」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
