Word
潜入
Meaning in Englishinfiltration, sneaking in
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 潜入 mean? It denotes the act of secretly entering a place, often to observe, gather information, or operate undercover; used as a noun and as 潜入する (suru-verb).
Main meanings
- Covert entry into a location for observation, intelligence gathering, or surveillance
- The noun form for an infiltration operation in police, military, or investigative contexts
- Figurative use to describe undercover access to a person or group's environment
How to use it
Used as a noun or as 潜入する to form a suru-verb; common in formal writing, journalism, law enforcement, espionage contexts, and works of fiction; frequent collocations include 潜入捜査 and 潜入取材, signaling covert entry, undercover investigation, or undercover reporting.
Variants and close terms
- 侵入 shinnyū – intrusion, infiltration
- 潜入捜査 sen'nyū sōsa – infiltration investigation
- 潜入取材 sen'nyū shuzai – undercover reporting
Composition
- 潜 - hide, dive
- 入 - enter
- Combined meaning describes entering covertly or while hidden
Etymology
sen from 潜 and nyū from 入; 潜入 (sen'nyū) is a compound formed using on'yomi readings; the pronunciation consolidates into sen'nyū, with no kun'yomi used here (潜入 sen'nyū).
Word class
Noun, suru-verb (潜入する)
Related words by kanji and components
N3
気に入る
ki ni iru
like, be pleased with
N3
記入
kinyuu
entry, filling in, form input
N3
入社
nyuusha
joining a company, employment entry
N3
入場
nyuujou
entry, admission
N4
入学
nyuugaku
school entrance, enrollment, admission
N4
押し入れ
oshiire
closet, built-in storage
N4
輸入
yunyuu
import
N4
入院
nyuuin
hospitalization, hospital admission
N5
入る
hairu
to enter, to contain, to hold