1A state of being densely packed or crowded, with little space between people or things — widely used since the COVID-19 era to mean close, crowded contact.
電車内はラッシュ時になると密になる。
The train becomes crowded during rush hour.
イベント会場では密を避けるため入場者数を制限した。
The venue limited the number of attendees to avoid crowding.
この森は木々が密で、日光がほとんど入らない。
The trees in this forest are so dense that almost no sunlight gets through.
2A close, tight-knit relationship or connection between people or organizations.
両社は業務提携によって密な関係を築いている。
The two companies have built a close relationship through their business partnership.
彼らは長年の付き合いで密な信頼関係にある。
They have a close, trusting relationship built over many years.
3Done meticulously, with close attention to every detail.
新製品の発売前に密な打ち合わせが何度も行われた。
Many meticulous meetings were held before the new product's release.
スケジュールを密に組んで、無駄のない出張にした。
We planned the schedule meticulously to make the business trip efficient.
4Kept hidden from others; secret or confidential.
その交渉は密に進められ、外部には一切知らされなかった。
The negotiations proceeded in secret, with nothing disclosed to outsiders.
二人は密に連絡を取り合っていた。
The two of them had been secretly staying in contact.
5In Buddhism, an abbreviation for esoteric Buddhism (密教); rarely used alone outside Buddhist terminology.
空海は唐で密を学び、日本に真言密教を伝えた。
Kukai studied esoteric Buddhism (密) in Tang China and brought Shingon esoteric Buddhism to Japan.