Meaning & readings

hide, shelter, shield

On’yomi トク
Kun’yomi かくま.う

Origin

This character combines the container shape on the left and right (匸, a radical that represents an enclosed space or shelter) with the middle component 若, which means young or weak. Together they create the image of something weak or small being enclosed and protected within a shelter, which naturally led to the meaning of hiding or sheltering someone. The doubled container frames suggest a place of refuge where something or someone can be concealed from view.

匿 10 strokes

Components

  • 匸 radical enclosure
  • 若 meaning part
  • 匸 radical enclosure

Common words

  • 隠匿 いんとく concealment (esp. of wrongdoings or criminals); sheltering
  • 匿名 とくめい anonymity; using an assumed name

Reference

Strokes
10
Kangxi radical
23
Formation type
Compound ideographic (combined meanings)
Grade
Jōyō (secondary school)
Frequency rank
#2024 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 1
Unicode
U+0533F