Nihongo

Kanji Detail of 隠

Level:N1 High
Strokes:14
Stroke Order
Related Words
AI Explanation
Basic Meaning

The kanji 隠 () primarily conveys the meaning of "to hide," "to conceal," "to cover," or "to be hidden." It implies a state of being unseen, secret, or out of view. The core concept revolves around the act of making something invisible or keeping it from being discovered.

Readings

・On-yomi (音読み): イン (in) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): かく(す) (kaku(su)) - to hide, かくれ(る) (kakure(ru)) - to be hidden

Usage Examples

⚫︎隠れる Translation: To hide; to conceal oneself. ⚫︎隠居 Translation: Retirement; to retire from public life. ⚫︎隠し事 Translation: A secret; something hidden.

Origin and Formation

The kanji 隠 () is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). It combines the radical (こざとへん, "ko-zato-hen"), which is a simplified form of (hill, mound) on the left side, and the phonetic component (in) on the right side, which provides the sound of the character. The hill or mound radical suggests a place or environment that might provide cover or concealment. The combination of these elements reflects the idea of concealing something within or behind a physical feature. The character evolved over time, with the meaning of hiding or concealing becoming its primary association.

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