Hidden meanings in Japanese

隠された (かくされた, kakusareta)

Example:

The hidden treasure was finally found.

隠された宝物がついに見つかった。

She has a hidden talent for singing.

彼女には歌の隠された才能がある。

Usage: Formal/InformalContext: Used in both casual conversation and formal writings to describe something that is concealed or not easily recognizable.

Note: This term can refer to both physical objects and abstract concepts, such as talents or emotions.

隠れた (かくれた, kakureta)

Example:

They discovered a hidden cave.

彼らは隠れた洞窟を発見した。

He has hidden feelings for her.

彼は彼女に対して隠れた感情を持っている。

Usage: InformalContext: Commonly used in everyday speech to describe something that is not immediately visible or known.

Note: This can also imply something that is intentionally concealed or not outwardly apparent.

秘められた (ひめられた, himerareta)

Example:

The book reveals a hidden truth.

その本は秘められた真実を明らかにする。

She spoke of her hidden fears.

彼女は秘められた恐れについて話した。

Usage: FormalContext: Often used in literary or poetic contexts to describe deep emotions or truths that are not openly expressed.

Note: This term carries a connotation of something valuable or profound that is kept secret.

見えない (みえない, mienai)

Example:

There are hidden dangers in the water.

水中には見えない危険がある。

He has a hidden agenda.

彼には見えない意図がある。

Usage: Formal/InformalContext: Used in both casual and formal contexts to describe something that cannot be seen or is not obvious.

Note: This term can refer to both literal visibility and metaphorical visibility, such as intentions or plans.

concealed

Concealed means to hide or keep something secret or out of sight.

Example: The treasure was concealed beneath the old oak tree.

Note: Concealed often implies a deliberate act of hiding something.

covert

Covert refers to something hidden, not openly acknowledged or displayed.

Example: The spy operated from a covert location to gather information.

Note: Covert is often used in the context of secret or undercover activities.

obscured

Obscured means to make something unclear or difficult to perceive.

Example: The moon was obscured by thick clouds, making it difficult to see.

Note: Obscured can imply something being partially hidden or blocked from view.

veiled

Veiled means to cover or conceal something, especially one's true feelings or intentions.

Example: Her emotions were veiled behind a mask of indifference.

Note: Veiled often conveys a sense of something being hidden or obscured from view.

camouflaged

Camouflaged means to disguise or hide something by blending it with the surroundings.

Example: The soldiers were camouflaged in the dense forest to avoid detection.

Note: Camouflaged is often used in the context of blending in with the environment to remain unseen.

Behind closed doors

This phrase means that something is done secretly or privately.

Example: They made the deal behind closed doors.

Note: While 'hidden' simply refers to something out of sight, 'behind closed doors' specifically implies secrecy or privacy.

Under wraps

When something is under wraps, it means it is being kept secret or confidential.

Example: The project is still under wraps; we can't reveal any details yet.

Note: This phrase emphasizes keeping something hidden from public knowledge.

Skeletons in the closet

This idiom refers to secrets or embarrassing truths about a person that they would prefer to keep hidden.

Example: Everyone has skeletons in the closet; no one is perfect.

Note: While 'hidden' is more general, 'skeletons in the closet' specifically implies personal secrets or shameful truths.

Cloak-and-dagger

Describes secretive, mysterious, or clandestine behavior.

Example: Their relationship was so cloak-and-dagger that no one knew about it.

Note: This phrase suggests a sense of mystery and intrigue beyond just being hidden.

Eyes only

Indicates that something is restricted to a select few people for viewing.

Example: This document is classified eyes only; not everyone can access it.

Note: This phrase implies limited access beyond just being hidden.

Keep it under your hat

Means to keep something confidential or secret.

Example: I'll tell you a secret, but you have to keep it under your hat.

Note: While 'hidden' is a general term, 'keep it under your hat' specifically refers to keeping information confidential.

In the shadows

Refers to staying hidden or out of the public eye.

Example: He preferred to stay in the shadows and avoid the limelight.

Note: This phrase conveys a sense of staying hidden from attention or scrutiny.

Under the radar

To do something without attracting attention or being noticed.

Example: She's been working on a new project quietly, under the radar.

Note: This term implies staying unnoticed or hidden while still active or present.

Off the grid

To live or be in a situation where you are not connected to the usual services for modern life, like electricity or the internet.

Example: He went off the grid for a month to focus on his writing.

Note: Going off the grid means intentionally disconnecting from normal societal connections, similar to going hidden but with a deliberate action involved.

Fly under the radar

To avoid being noticed or detected by others, especially when doing something discreetly.

Example: She managed to fly under the radar and complete the task without anyone knowing.

Note: Similar to 'under the radar,' but with a connotation of actively avoiding detection in a skillful manner.

In plain sight

Something hidden or unnoticed that is actually easily seen or found.

Example: The solution was in plain sight the whole time, we just didn't see it.

Note: Contrary to 'hidden,' this term refers to something that is present or visible but overlooked or not recognized as significant.

Clandestine

Done secretly or kept hidden, often for illicit purposes.

Example: Their clandestine meetings raised suspicions among their colleagues.

Note: This term is more formal and often carries a sense of mystery or secrecy beyond just being hidden.

Hush-hush

Kept secret or concealed from public knowledge.

Example: The new project is hush-hush at the moment, so we can't discuss it.

Note: Implies a sense of whispering or silence around the hidden information, making it more about secrecy than just being hidden.

Under the table

Done secretly or illicitly, often involving illegal or unethical activities.

Example: They made a deal under the table to avoid taxes.

Note: This term specifically denotes actions that are hidden to avoid legal consequences or oversight.

The treasure was hidden in a secret location.

She had a hidden talent for singing.

The spy was a master of staying hidden.

Hidden - Verb (Verb) / Verb, past participle (Verb, past participle)

Lemma: hide

Conjugations

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): hides, hide

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): hide

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): hid

Verb, past participle (Verb, past participle): hidden

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): hiding

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): hides

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): hide

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): hide

Syllables, Separation and Stress

hidden Contains 2 syllables: hid • den

Phonetic transcription: ˈhi-dᵊn

hid den , ˈhi dᵊn (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

hidden: ~ 2900 (Very common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Hidden