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JapanLingo

cover / conceal

N1
Onyomi
Stroke count
15
JLPT
N1

Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.

Memory tip

A flat illustration of young plants pushing up out of the soil beside a garden label, with the kanji 蔽 ("cover") drawn into the picture.

Break 蔽 down and you get 艹 (grass / plant) — two shoots pushing up through the soil, and beside it 敝 (worn / tattered) — a cloth beaten so often its threads have started to fray. Picture young plants pushing up out of the soil beside a garden label, put 蔽 inside it, and let that scene stand for "cover" — cover / conceal. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.

Stroke Order

Stroke count: 15

General writing tips

These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.

  • •Write from top to bottom.
  • •Write from left to right.
  • •Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
  • •Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
  • •In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
  • •This kanji has 15 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.

Step by step

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Practice Writing

Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.

Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.

Writing Tips

  • Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
  • Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
  • Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
  • Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.

Example words

inpei

concealment

inpeisuru

to do concealment

inpeishita

plain past: did concealment

inpeishimasu

polite: do concealment

inpeishinai

plain negative: does not do concealment

inpeichuudesu

in the middle of concealment

Example sentences (2)

jiko no inpei ga akiraka ni narimashita.

The cover-up of the accident came to light.

jijitsu no inpei wa, kouteki na kikan ni aru majiki koui da to iemasu.

Covering up the facts is conduct unbecoming of a public body.