打ち明ける

• Reading: うちあける
• Romaji: uchiakeru
• Kanji breakdown: 打 (da/u) — strike, hit; 明 (mei/a) — bright, clear, open
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.tɕi.a.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To confide; to reveal; to disclose. To open up and share something private or secret with someone.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb meaning to speak frankly about something previously hidden. Combines 打ち (emphasis prefix) with 明ける (to open). Often used with に to indicate the person being confided in. Carries emotional weight — the speaker is trusting the listener with sensitive information.

Examples

1. 友人に長年の悩みを打ち明けた。 I confided my long-held worries to a friend.
2. 彼女は自分の過去を打ち明ける勇気がなかった。 She didn't have the courage to reveal her past.
3. 母親にすべてを打ち明けようと決心した。 I made up my mind to tell my mother everything.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, emotional conversations, trust

Tone: intimate

Origin & History

Compound of 打ち (a prefix adding emphasis or thoroughness) and 明ける (to open, reveal). Literally 'to open up completely,' conveying the act of laying bare what was hidden.

Cultural Context

Era: Medieval

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal