Readings: ミツ (Onyomi), ひそ.か, ひそか (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Density, secrecy, closeness, intimacy, carefulness, concentration, compactness, confidentiality
The character 密 is composed of 宀 (roof) and 必 (surely, certainly). The older form often included something suggesting a dense forest or thicket, conveying the idea of something being “dense” or “hidden away” under a roof. This evolved into meanings of closeness, secrecy, and density.
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 密 begins with the ‘roof’ radical (宀), followed by the components inside, generally starting from the top left and moving down and to the right. Pay attention to the two dots within the ‘roof’ and the components of ‘必’ (heart and slanted lines) in the correct order.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 宀 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ミツ (Mitsu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- ひそか (hisoka)
Common Words Using 密
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 秘密 | ひみつ | Secret |
| 密度 | みつど | Density |
| 密集 | みっしゅう | Crowding, close formation, dense |
| 精密 | せいみつ | Precise, accurate, elaborate |
| 親密 | しんみつ | Intimacy, closeness |
| 機密 | きみつ | Confidentiality, secrecy (esp. government/business) |
| 密接 | みっせつ | Close, intimate, related |
| 濃密 | のうみつ | Dense, thick, rich |
| 周密 | しゅうみつ | Thorough, careful, meticulous |
| 厳密 | げんみつ | Strict, rigorous, precise |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 密か | ひそか | Secret, private, hidden (adjectival noun) |
| 密かに | ひそかに | Secretly, stealthily, privately (adverb) |
| 密かな願い | ひそかなねがい | Secret wish |
| 密かな恋 | ひそかなこい | Secret love |
| 密かな計画 | ひそかなけいかく | Secret plan |
| 密かに会う | ひそかにあう | To meet secretly |
| 密かに企む | ひそかにもくろむ | To conspire secretly |
| 密かに想う | ひそかにおもう | To think of secretly (e.g., love) |
| 密かなる | ひそかなる | Secret, private (literary adjectival form) |
| 密かな楽しみ | ひそかなたのしみ | Secret pleasure |
Example Sentences
Japanese: その情報は最高機密事項です。
Kana: そのじょうほうはさいこうきみつじこうです。
Romaji: Sono jōhō wa saikō kimitsu jikō desu.
English: That information is top secret.
Japanese: この地域の人口密度は非常に高い。
Kana: このちいきのじんこうみつどはひじょうにたかい。
Romaji: Kono chiiki no jinkō mitsudo wa hijō ni takai.
English: The population density in this area is extremely high.
Japanese: 彼は何か秘密を抱えているようだ。
Kana: かれはなにかひみつをかかえているようだ。
Romaji: Kare wa nanika himitsu o kakaeteiru yō da.
English: He seems to be harboring some kind of secret.
Japanese: 二人の間には親密な関係が築かれている。
Kana: ふたりのあいだにはしんみつなかんけいがきづかれている。
Romaji: Futari no aida ni wa shinmitsu na kankei ga kizukareteiru.
English: A close relationship has been built between the two of them.
Japanese: 事件と密接な関係がある人物が逮捕された。
Kana: じけんとみっせつなかんけいがあるじんぶつがたいほされた。
Romaji: Jiken to missetsu na kankei ga aru jinbutsu ga taiho sareta.
English: A person closely related to the incident was arrested.
Japanese: 会議は厳密な時間管理のもとで行われた。
Kana: かいぎはげんみつなじかんかんりのもとでおこなわれた。
Romaji: Kaigi wa genmitsu na jikan kanri no moto de okonawareta.
English: The meeting was conducted under strict time management.
Japanese: 鳥たちが木の枝に密集して止まっている。
Kana: とりたちがきのえだにみっしゅうしてとまっている。
Romaji: Toritachi ga ki no eda ni misshū shite tomatteiru.
English: Birds are densely gathered on the tree branches.
Japanese: 彼女は密かに彼のことを応援していた。
Kana: かのじょはひそかにかれのことをおうえんしていた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa hisokani kare no koto o ōen shiteita.
English: She was secretly cheering for him.
Japanese: 彼の計画は非常に精密に練られていた。
Kana: かれのけいかくはひじょうにせいみつにねられていた。
Romaji: Kare no keikaku wa hijō ni seimitsu ni nerareteita.
English: His plan was very precisely thought out.
Japanese: このワインは濃密な味わいが特徴だ。
Kana: このワインはのうみつなあじわいがとくちょうだ。
Romaji: Kono wain wa nōmitsu na ajiwai ga tokuchō da.
English: This wine is characterized by its rich, dense flavor.
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