隠れる

• Reading: かくれる
• Romaji: kakureru
• Kanji breakdown: 隠 (kaku/in) — hide, conceal
• Pronunciation: /ka.kɯ.ɾe.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To hide; to be hidden. To conceal oneself from view or remain out of sight.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb. Conjugated by dropping る and adding the appropriate ending. Unlike the transitive 隠す (to hide something), 隠れる focuses on the subject hiding themselves. Often used in かくれんぼ (hide and seek). Can also describe things that are obscured or not easily noticed.

Examples

1. 子供たちが木の後ろに隠れている。 The children are hiding behind the tree.
2. 太陽が雲に隠れて暗くなった。 The sun hid behind the clouds and it got dark.
3. 猫はいつもソファの下に隠れる。 The cat always hides under the sofa.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, children, nature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 隠 (in/kaku, to hide/conceal), with the intransitive verb ending れる. The kanji depicts a hand covering something on a hill — the act of concealment.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal