prostrated, bend down, bow, cover

About this kanji

The kanji 伏 primarily means to prostrate or to bend down, often associated with actions like bowing or covering something. It is commonly used both as a verb and in various compounds. For example, 起伏 (きふく) means undulation, reflecting a rising and falling motion; 降伏 (こうふく) means surrender, indicating a yielding position; and 伏せる (ふせる) means to lay something face down, like a book or a document. A useful note is that this kanji can also imply strategies in military terms, as seen in 伏兵 (ふくへい), referring to an ambush. Learning how to use 伏 can enhance your understanding of Japanese expressions related to humility and concealment.

Example sentences

• 犬が伏せている姿が可愛い。

  The dog looks cute lying down.

Meanings across languages

English

prostrated, bend down, bow, cover, lay (pipes)

Tiếng Việt

cúi xuống

日本語

伏せる

한국어

엎드리다

中文

伏

id

terkulai, membungkuk, menutupi, meletakkan (pipa)

th

คำนับ, โน้มตัวลง, ปกปิด, วาง (ท่อ)

es

postrado, inclinarse, cubrir, colocar (tuberías)

fr

prostré, se pencher, couvrir, poser (tuyaux)

de

niedergebeugt, sich verbeugen, bedecken, legen (Rohre)

pt

prostrado, inclinar-se, cobrir, deitar (canos)

Common compounds

• 起伏きふくundulation, ups and downs, highs and lows
• 降伏こうふくsurrender, capitulation, submission
• 伏線ふくせんforeshadowing, preparation, precautionary measures
• 伏兵ふくへいambush, troops in ambush, unexpected opposition
• 伏せるふせるto lay (something) face down, to place upside down, to turn over (face down)
• 待ち伏せまちぶせambush, lying in wait for an ambush
• 潜伏せんぷくconcealment, hiding, ambush
• 山伏やまぶしyamabushi, practitioner of Shugendō, itinerant Buddhist monk