1.
secret; something hidden; something concealed
Something that a person is deliberately keeping from others. Composed of 隠す (to hide) + 事 (thing/matter). Implies a personal secret that the person does not want revealed.
彼女には隠し事がある。
She has a secret.
夫婦の間に隠し事はないほうがいい。
It's better not to have secrets between a married couple.
子供が何か隠し事をしているようで、最近様子がおかしい。
It seems like the child is hiding something — they've been acting strangely lately.
USAGE:
隠し事 refers specifically to a personal secret — something one person is concealing from another. It often comes up in discussions of trust in relationships.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 隠し事をする (keep a secret)
- 隠し事がある (have a secret)
- 隠し事がばれる (one's secret is found out)
- 隠し事はしない (not keep secrets)
SIMILAR WORDS:
秘密 is a broader term for "secret" that can refer to official secrets, mysteries, or personal secrets. 隠し事 specifically implies a personal matter being deliberately concealed from someone close. 内緒 means "keeping something between us" and has a lighter, more casual nuance.