Himitsu – How to say Secret in Japanese?

Have you ever wondered how to say secret in Japanese? In this article, we will analyze the word himitsu [秘密] which means secret and also some synonyms like naisho and kimitsu. You will also learn many secret words for your vocabulary.

What does Himitsu mean?

The word himitsu [秘密] can be a noun or an adjective of the type na [な] that means secret; confidentiality; privacy; mystery; discretion; secretive and also esoteric teachings. The word [秘密] has a greater, generalized, and more lasting feeling.

The word himitsu is composed of the ideogram [秘] which means secret and hide along with the ideogram [密] which means confidentiality, density, minutiae, and care. There isn’t much secret about this word.

See below some phrases, related words, or composed of himitsu:

• Himitsuhojikeiyaku [秘密保持契約] – Non-disclosure agreement;
• Himitsu no tobira [秘密の扉] – Secret door;
• Himitsu ga arimasu [秘密があります] – There is a secret;
• Himitsuna kanojou [秘密な彼女] – Secret girlfriend;
• Himitsujanai [秘密じゃない] – No secrets;
• Kojintekinahimitsu [個人的な秘密] – Personal secret;
• Kigyouhimitsu [企業秘密] – Corporate secrets; business, industrial, or commercial secrets;
• Himitsu no bakuro [秘密の暴露] – Secret disclosure;
• Himitsukeisatsu [秘密警察] – Secret police;
• Himitsukessha [秘密結社] – Secret Society;
• Himitsushugi [秘密主義] – Secretism;
• Himitsuyaku [密約] – Secret agreement;

Naisho – Just for your eyes

It is also common to use the word naisho [内緒] to refer to some personal secrets, confidences, and privacies. The word can also present a circumstance (especially physical) and also inner realization and personal enlightenment.

The expression naishogoto [内緒事] is used to indicate a secret; private matter or confidential matter. When we talk or tell a secret, it is called naishohanashi [内緒話] which means secret conversation.

The word naisho [内緒] has a less formal touch, a bit more personal and temporary. Generally, this type of secret is not something to be kept for many years, nor something very serious, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to gossip about it.

See some examples of the word naisho:

• Kore wa naisho dayo [これは内緒] Please keep this a secret;
• Naisho de tabako wo suu [内緒でたばこを吸う] – Smoking in secret;
• Naisho no hanashi – [内緒の話] – Secret conversation;
• Naisho de soko e itta [私は内緒でそこへ行った] – I went there in secret;

Kimitsu – State secret – Confidential

We also have the formal word kimitsu [機密] used to refer to institutional, governmental, or military secrets. Highly classified and confidential information. It can be used to refer to secret funds, security, and much more.

See below some examples of use and words composed with kimitsu:

• Kimitsujouhou [機密情報] – Confidential information;
• Kimitshogo – [機密保護] – Security (of data, passwords, and others);
• Kokkakimitsu [国家機密] – State secrets; national secret;
• Kimitsuhi [機密費] – Secret funds;
• Kimitsubunsho [機密文書] – Confidential/classified document;
• Kimitsushorui [機密書類] – Classified, confidential, top secret, or sensitive documents;
• Kimitsurouei [機密漏洩] – Leak of official secrets; leak of confidential information;
• Tokumukikan [特務機関] – Secret military agency; secret service;
• Gunjikimitsu [軍事機密] – Military secret;

Other secret words in Japanese

Who doesn’t remember the character Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter? Did you know that the word hisoka [密か] is an adjective that means secret, reserved, private, and surreptitious? Don’t these meanings well represent the character’s traits?

We also have the word shinpi [神秘] which means mysterious; mystery; secret and sacred mysteries. We also have kakushigoto [隠し事] which means hidden thing or secrecy. Onmitsu [隠密] is used for hidden, clandestine, covered secrets and spies.

The word hiketsu [秘訣] refers to secrets involving methods and tricks, key codes, mysteries involving art and commerce as well as recipes and tricks. Hiden [秘伝] can also mean secrets of medicine, recipes, and mysteries of art;

• Naibun [内分] – Secret, confidential;
• Shuhigimu [守秘義務] Duty of confidentiality;
• Hitoshirenu [人知れぬ] – Secret; hidden; unnoticed; inward;
• Misokagoto [密か事] – Secret; private matter; love affair; connection;
• Inji [隠事] – Secret (obscure term);
• Naibun [内聞] – Private information; secret;
• Okuyurushi [奥許し] – Secret, initiation, diploma;
• Himeyaka [秘めやか] – Secretive;
• Shitagokoro [下心] – Secret intention; hidden motive;
• Shiikuretto [シークレット] – From the English secret;
• Gokui [極意] – Most intimate secrets (art, skill); mysteries; essence;
• Maruhi [マル秘] = Confidential; secret; referring to the symbol [㊙];
• Uchiuchi [内々] – Secretly; privately; confidentially; within the family circle;
• Hisaku [秘策] – Secret plan; secret scheme; secret strategy; secret method;
• Mitsuji [密事] – Secret matter;
• Kakureru [隠れる] – Hide; encrypt; disappear;

Exposing secrets in Japanese

Now let’s learn words related to the revelation of secrets and things like that:

• Bakurohanashi [暴露話] – Expose; reveal conversation; internal conversation;
• Tousatsu [盗撮] – Sneaky photography; non-consensual photography; spying photos;
• Netabare [ネタバレ] – Spoiler;
• Touchou [盗聴] – Interception; phone tapping; bug;
• Ashigaderu [足が出る] – Exceed budget; have a secret revealed;
• Gekihaku [激白] – Frankly revealing; revelation; disclosure; confession;
• Kokuhaku [告白] – Confession; acknowledgment; love confession; professing feelings;
• Kougai [口外] – Revealing; disclosure; saying; letting out;
• Taneakashi [種明かし] – Reveal how a trick is done; disclosure of a secret; exposure; explanation;
• Tagen [他言] – Tell others; revealing to others;
• Kenshou [顕正] – Revealing the truth; demonstrating the truth;
• Himitsuroueizai [秘密漏洩罪] – Crime of revealing state secrets; charged with revealing them;
• Mitomeru [認める] – Acknowledge; admit; accept;
• Sarakedasu [さらけ出す] – Expose; disclose; strip; confess;