1.
hiding place; refuge; hideout
A place where someone hides or takes refuge, either literally or in a more relaxed sense.
山の中に隠れ家がある。
There's a hideaway in the mountains.
忍者は隠れ家に身を潜めた。
The ninja hid in a hideout.
疲れたときは、この公園が私の隠れ家のような場所だ。
When I'm tired, this park is like a personal retreat for me.
2.
hideaway; hidden gem (restaurant, bar, etc.)
A small, tucked-away restaurant, bar, or shop that is not widely known. Used as a positive descriptor in food and travel writing to suggest exclusivity and charm.
隠れ家レストランを見つけた。
I found a hidden gem of a restaurant.
路地裏にある隠れ家バーが人気だ。
A tucked-away bar in a back alley is popular.
友人に教えてもらった隠れ家的なカフェで静かに読書を楽しんだ。
I quietly enjoyed reading at a hidden-gem café a friend told me about.
USAGE:
The original meaning is a physical hiding place, but in modern Japanese, 隠れ家 is very frequently used to describe small, out-of-the-way restaurants, bars, or cafés. The word has a positive connotation in this usage, suggesting a cozy, exclusive atmosphere.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 隠れ家レストラン (hidden-gem restaurant)
- 隠れ家的な (hideaway-like, tucked-away)
- 隠れ家バー (hidden bar)
- 隠れ家に逃げ込む (to flee to a hideout)