Word
覆面
Meaning in Englishmask, veil, disguise
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
覆面 means a mask that covers the face to hide identity. It denotes a physical disguise used to conceal who someone is, whether in crime reports, entertainment such as masked wrestlers, or everyday contexts where anonymity is desired.
Main meanings
- Physical concealment: a face-covering worn to hide identity in various situations
- Disguise in performance or media: used to adopt a persona or conceal the wearer’s identity in fiction or journalism
- Metaphorical sense: a figurative mask for social or strategic purposes, e.g., hiding true intentions or emotions
How to use it
覆面 is used to refer to a face-covering with the aim of concealing identity. It is more formal, literary, or technical than casual terms like マスク; in everyday speech, people often choose マスク to denote a protective mask, while 覆面 emphasizes concealment and persona; common contexts include crime reporting, fiction, media, and sports where masked personas appear.
Variants and close terms
- 仮面 (かめん, kamen) — mask or disguise, often used for theatrical or symbolic purposes
- マスク (ますく, masuku) — modern mask, especially for health or fashion
Composition
- 覆: to cover, to protect; core idea of concealment
- 面: face, surface; the part that is hidden
- Together they describe a mask that covers the face to hide identity
Word class
noun (名詞)