Japanese

かこう
Meaning: to enclose; to surround; to shelter/harbor
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 囲う 囲わない
Polite 囲います 囲いません
Past 囲った 囲わなかった
Polite + Past 囲いました 囲いませんでした
Te-form 囲って 囲わなくて
Potential 囲える 囲えない
Passive 囲われる 囲われない
Causative 囲わせる 囲わせない
Causative + Passive 囲わされる 囲わされない
Imperative 囲え 囲うな

Handwriting

囲
う

Example sentences

Harboring a criminal in one's house is a crime.
彼は裕福な商人だが、密かに妾を囲っている。
He is a wealthy merchant, but he is secretly keeping a concubine.

Usage Notes

Can refer to physical enclosure (fencing) or social/legal shielding (harboring a fugitive).

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