忍(しの)び

しのび
noun
stealth, secrecy; ninja
1. stealth, secrecy, concealment
The act of doing something secretly or stealthily. Often used in compounds and set phrases meaning 'in secret' or 'stealthily.'
忍(しの)びの術(じゅつ)を使(つか)う。
To use the art of stealth.
人目(ひとめ)を忍(しの)びで会(あ)う。
To meet in secret, away from prying eyes.
忍(しの)びの足(あし)で部屋(へや)に入(はい)った。
I entered the room with stealthy footsteps.
2. ninja, spy, covert agent
A person who operates in stealth, particularly the historical ninja (also called 忍者). Used in both historical and fictional contexts.
忍(しの)びを雇(やと)って敵(てき)の情報(じょうほう)を集(あつ)めた。
They hired a ninja to gather intelligence on the enemy.
伊賀(いが)の忍(しの)びは歴史的(れきしてき)に有名(ゆうめい)だ。
The ninja of Iga are historically famous.
忍(しの)びの者(もの)が城(しろ)に潜入(せんにゅう)して機密(きみつ)を盗(ぬす)み出(だ)した。
A ninja infiltrated the castle and stole the secret documents.

USAGE:
In sense 1, often appears in compounds: 忍(しの)び足(あし) (stealthy footsteps), 忍(しの)び寄(よ)る (to creep up), お忍(しの)び (incognito, traveling secretly). In sense 2, a shorter and more literary alternative to 忍者(にんじゃ).

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • お忍(しの)び: incognito (often used for celebrities visiting somewhere secretly)
  • 忍(しの)び足(あし): stealthy footsteps
  • 忍(しの)び寄(よ)る: to creep up on
  • 忍(しの)びの者(もの): a ninja, a spy

HISTORICAL NOTE:
忍(しの)び is the traditional Japanese word for what is now more commonly called 忍者(にんじゃ). The term 忍者(にんじゃ) became widespread through popular media in the 20th century.

general
Added 2026.2.22 13:09
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