覆い・被い・蔽い・掩い|おおいooi[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
覆い覆い is the most common written form and the practical choice for learners when writing this word.
被い被い is a less common written form than 覆い; you may encounter it as an alternative spelling.
蔽い蔽い is less common than 覆い and 被い; you may encounter it as an alternative written form.
掩い掩い is the least common of these written forms, so learners are less likely to encounter it than the others.
Definitions
- nouncover; mantle; shroud; hood
Synonyms & antonyms
- SynonymカバーNeutralUnlike the general 「覆い」, this loanword is the everyday word for covers and dust jackets; it also means a cover version of a song or making up for a loss.
- Synonym被覆ひふくWrittenWritten-style technical term for the act or object of covering; also the coating on wires and pipes.
- Synonym上覆うわおおいWrittenA covering placed on the very top of something; rare, and close in meaning to 「覆い」.
- Related幕まくNeutralA long cloth hung to divide or decorate a space; also one act of a play.
- RelatedカーテンNeutralCurtains — the most common everyday word; also covers room-dividing curtains and stage curtains.
- Related遮蔽しゃへいNeutralRefers to blocking light, sight or radiation; stresses the act of shielding — an action, not an object like 「覆い」.
- Related遮蔽物しゃへいぶつNeutralA thing used to block or shield, such as a shelter, screen or barrier; stresses its protective role rather than simply covering.
- Related帳とばりWrittenA hanging drape or curtain with a literary flavor, often figurative as in 「夜のとばり」.
- Related窓掛けまどかけNeutralAn old-fashioned word for curtains, now rare; in daily speech 「カーテン」 is the normal choice.
- Related引き幕ひきまくWrittenA stage curtain drawn open sideways; a theater term, more specialized than 「覆い」.
- Related帷帳いちょうWrittenHanging drapery; rare and written in style, also tents at a military camp.
- Related帷幕いばくWrittenA curtain or drape; also the field headquarters where plans were made. Rare, written style.
- Related緞帳どんちょうWrittenThe heavy curtain raised and lowered at the front of a theater stage; specific to theaters.
- RelatedたれぎぬWrittenA hanging silk drape used for decoration or screening; archaic and rarely used.
Use 「覆い」 for a covering laid over something in general. For everyday covers, cases and dust jackets choose 「カバー」; for curtains 「カーテン」; for stage curtains 「幕」 or 「緞帳」. 「被覆」 is a technical written term, 「遮蔽」 the act of shielding, and 「帳」 a literary drape.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
