囲(かこ)う

かこう
godan verb
to enclose; to fence in; to keep (a mistress)
1. to enclose, to fence in, to pen
To surround an area with a fence, wall, or barrier to contain or protect what is inside.
庭(にわ)を柵(さく)で囲(かこ)う。
To fence in the garden.
鶏(にわとり)を囲(かこ)って外(そと)に出(で)ないようにした。
I penned in the chickens so they wouldn't get out.
畑(はたけ)の周(まわ)りをネットで囲(かこ)って鹿(しか)の被害(ひがい)を防(ふせ)いでいる。
We put netting around the field to prevent deer damage.
2. to keep, to shelter, to hide away
To keep someone (such as a mistress) in a separate residence, or to hide or shelter someone or something away.
愛人(あいじん)を囲(かこ)う。
To keep a mistress.
食料(しょくりょう)を囲(かこ)っておく。
To stockpile food.
戦時中(せんじちゅう)、貴重(きちょう)な品物(しなもの)を蔵(くら)に囲(かこ)って守(まも)った。
During the war, they kept valuable goods hidden in the storehouse to protect them.

TRANSITIVITY:
Transitive. The intransitive form 囲(かこ)まれる (passive) is common: 壁(かべ)に囲(かこ)まれる (to be surrounded by walls). Compare with 囲(かこ)む (to surround, to encircle), which focuses on surrounding from the outside, whereas 囲(かこ)う emphasizes enclosing to contain.

CONJUGATION:

Godan verb (五段動詞(ごだんどうし)), う-ending.

  • Negative: 囲(かこ)わない
  • Polite: 囲(かこ)います
  • Te-form: 囲(かこ)って
  • Past: 囲(かこ)った

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 柵(さく)で囲(かこ)う: to fence in
  • 壁(かべ)で囲(かこ)う: to enclose with walls
  • 愛人(あいじん)を囲(かこ)う: to keep a mistress
general
Added 2026.2.19 20:45 · Revised 2026.2.19 21:32
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