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Japanese Clothing Kanji: Learn What to Wear in Japanese

Master Japanese clothing kanji: 服 (fuku/clothes), 着物 (kimono), 靴 (kutsu/shoes), 帽子 (boushi/hat), 浴衣 (yukata), and more. Each entry includes readings, example sentences, and cultural context for everyday Japanese fashion vocabulary.

Japanese Clothing at a Glance

衣服 (Ifuku): Clothing

Japanese has distinct vocabulary for Western clothing (洋服 youfuku) and traditional Japanese clothing (和服 wafuku). The kanji 服 (fuku) meaning "clothes" appears in many clothing compound words.

Traditional vs. Modern

While most Japanese people wear Western-style clothes daily, traditional garments like 着物 (kimono) and 浴衣 (yukata) are still worn for festivals, ceremonies, and special occasions throughout the year.

JLPT Relevance

Basic clothing kanji like 服 and 着 appear at JLPT N4-N5, while specialized terms like 袴 and 絹 are N2-N1. Shopping vocabulary using these kanji is essential for daily life in Japan.

Core Japanese Clothing Kanji

These twenty kanji and compound words cover essential clothing vocabulary, from everyday items like shoes and hats to traditional Japanese garments and fabric materials.

ItemKanjiHiraganaRomajiJLPT
Clothes服ふくfukuN4
To Wear着き(きる)ki (kiru)N4
Kimono着物きものkimonoN3
Yukata浴衣ゆかたyukataN2
Hakama袴はかまhakamaN1
Obi Sash帯おびobiN2
Shoes靴くつkutsuN4
Hat / Cap帽子ぼうしboushiN4
Socks靴下くつしたkutsushitaN4
Gloves手袋てぶくろtebukuroN3
Jacket / Coat上着うわぎuwagiN3
Underwear下着したぎshitagiN3
Western Clothes洋服ようふくyoufukuN3
Japanese Clothes和服わふくwafukuN2
Bag / Sack袋ふくろfukuroN3
Sleeve袖そでsodeN1
Collar襟えりeriN1
Silk絹きぬkinuN1
Cotton綿めんmenN2
Leather革かわkawaN2

All Japanese Clothing Kanji Explained

Explore each clothing kanji with its readings, literal meaning breakdown, and example sentences used in everyday Japanese.

👕
服
Clothes / Clothing
ふく (fuku)
Literal meaning: 服 = "clothing/to serve"; originally meant garments given to servants

Example:

新しい服を買いました。

Atarashii fuku wo kaimashita.

I bought new clothes.

👘
着物
Kimono
きもの (kimono)
Literal meaning: 着 (wear) + 物 (thing) = "thing to wear"

Example:

お正月に着物を着ます。

Oshougatsu ni kimono wo kimasu.

I wear a kimono on New Year's.

🎐
浴衣
Yukata (Summer Kimono)
ゆかた (yukata)
Literal meaning: 浴 (bathe) + 衣 (garment) = "bathing garment"

Example:

夏祭りで浴衣を着ました。

Natsu-matsuri de yukata wo kimashita.

I wore a yukata at the summer festival.

🎋
袴
Hakama (Pleated Trousers)
はかま (hakama)
Literal meaning: 袴 = traditional wide-legged trousers worn over kimono

Example:

卒業式で袴を着る女性が多いです。

Sotsugyou-shiki de hakama wo kiru josei ga ooi desu.

Many women wear hakama at graduation ceremonies.

🎀
帯
Obi Sash / Belt
おび (obi)
Literal meaning: 帯 = "belt/sash/zone": the wide sash that secures a kimono

Example:

この帯はとても美しいです。

Kono obi wa totemo utsukushii desu.

This obi sash is very beautiful.

👞
靴
Shoes
くつ (kutsu)
Literal meaning: 靴 = "shoes/footwear"; uses the leather radical 革

Example:

玄関で靴を脱いでください。

Genkan de kutsu wo nuide kudasai.

Please take off your shoes at the entrance.

🧢
帽子
Hat / Cap
ぼうし (boushi)
Literal meaning: 帽 (headwear) + 子 (small thing) = "head covering"

Example:

暑いから帽子をかぶりましょう。

Atsui kara boushi wo kaburimashou.

It's hot, so let's wear hats.

🧦
靴下
Socks
くつした (kutsushita)
Literal meaning: 靴 (shoes) + 下 (below/under) = "under shoes"

Example:

白い靴下を履いています。

Shiroi kutsushita wo haite imasu.

I am wearing white socks.

🧤
手袋
Gloves
てぶくろ (tebukuro)
Literal meaning: 手 (hand) + 袋 (bag) = "hand bag(s)"

Example:

冬は手袋が必要です。

Fuyu wa tebukuro ga hitsuyou desu.

Gloves are necessary in winter.

🧥
上着
Jacket / Coat
うわぎ (uwagi)
Literal meaning: 上 (above/top) + 着 (wear) = "top wear"

Example:

寒いので上着を着てください。

Samui node uwagi wo kite kudasai.

It's cold, so please put on a jacket.

👔
下着
Underwear
したぎ (shitagi)
Literal meaning: 下 (below/under) + 着 (wear) = "under wear"

Example:

下着は毎日洗濯します。

Shitagi wa mainichi sentaku shimasu.

I wash my underwear every day.

👔
洋服
Western Clothes
ようふく (youfuku)
Literal meaning: 洋 (Western/ocean) + 服 (clothes) = "Western clothes"

Example:

明治時代から洋服が広まりました。

Meiji-jidai kara youfuku ga hiromari mashita.

Western clothes spread from the Meiji era.

👘
和服
Japanese Clothes
わふく (wafuku)
Literal meaning: 和 (Japanese/harmony) + 服 (clothes) = "Japanese clothes"

Example:

祖母は和服が好きです。

Sobo wa wafuku ga suki desu.

My grandmother likes Japanese clothes.

👜
袋
Bag / Sack
ふくろ (fukuro)
Literal meaning: 袋 = "bag/sack"; uses the clothing radical 衤

Example:

レジ袋は有料になりました。

Reji-bukuro wa yuuryou ni narimashita.

Plastic bags at checkout became paid.

💪
袖
Sleeve
そで (sode)
Literal meaning: 袖 = "sleeve"; contains the clothing radical 衤

Example:

長袖のシャツを着ています。

Nagasode no shatsu wo kite imasu.

I am wearing a long-sleeved shirt.

👔
襟
Collar
えり (eri)
Literal meaning: 襟 = "collar/lapel"; contains the clothing radical 衤

Example:

シャツの襟が汚れています。

Shatsu no eri ga yogorete imasu.

The shirt collar is dirty.

🧶
絹
Silk
きぬ (kinu)
Literal meaning: 絹 = "silk"; contains the thread radical 糸

Example:

絹の着物はとても高いです。

Kinu no kimono wa totemo takai desu.

Silk kimonos are very expensive.

🧵
綿
Cotton
めん (men)
Literal meaning: 綿 = "cotton/padding"; contains the thread radical 糸

Example:

夏は綿のシャツが涼しいです。

Natsu wa men no shatsu ga suzushii desu.

Cotton shirts are cool in summer.

🐄
革
Leather
かわ (kawa)
Literal meaning: 革 = "leather/reform": pictograph of an animal hide

Example:

革のバッグを買いたいです。

Kawa no baggu wo kaitai desu.

I want to buy a leather bag.

👚
着
To Wear (Upper Body)
き(きる) (ki (kiru))
Literal meaning: 着 = "arrive/wear": to put clothing on the upper body

Example:

毎日制服を着て学校に行きます。

Mainichi seifuku wo kite gakkou ni ikimasu.

I wear a uniform and go to school every day.

Japanese Clothing by Category

Japanese clothing vocabulary can be grouped into categories. Understanding these groupings helps you see patterns in how kanji compounds are formed.

👘
Traditional Japanese
和服 (wafuku)

Traditional Japanese garments are still worn for tea ceremonies, festivals (祭り matsuri), coming-of-age ceremonies (成人式 seijin-shiki), and summer festivals. Each piece has specific wearing rules.

👘 着物 kimono🎐 浴衣 yukata🎋 袴 hakama🎀 帯 obi
👔
Everyday Clothing
洋服 (youfuku)

Western-style clothing dominates daily wear in Japan. Department stores (デパート depaato) and fashion districts like Harajuku are central to Japanese fashion culture.

👕 服 fuku🧥 上着 uwagi👞 靴 kutsu🧢 帽子 boushi
🧵
Materials & Fabrics
生地 (kiji)

Japan has a rich textile tradition. Silk (絹) was historically one of Japan's most important exports, and cotton (綿) became widespread during the Edo period. Leather (革) goods are also highly valued.

🧶 絹 kinu🧵 綿 men🐄 革 kawa
🧤
Accessories & Parts
小物 (komono)

Clothing accessories and garment parts have their own kanji. Many of these terms combine body-part kanji with clothing kanji, like 手袋 (hand + bag = gloves) and 靴下 (shoes + below = socks).

🧤 手袋 tebukuro🧦 靴下 kutsushita👔 襟 eri💪 袖 sode

Clothing-Related Compound Words (Jukugo)

These compound words extend beyond basic clothing to cover fashion, shopping, and style vocabulary. Many use the same kanji building blocks found in clothing terms.

CompoundReadingMeaning
衣服いふく (ifuku)Clothing/garments: "garment clothes"
制服せいふく (seifuku)Uniform: "system clothes"
水着みずぎ (mizugi)Swimsuit: "water wear"
着替えきがえ (kigae)Change of clothes: "wear change"
試着しちゃく (shichaku)Trying on clothes: "test wear"
脱衣所だついじょ (datsuijo)Changing room: "remove clothing place"
長靴ながぐつ (nagagutsu)Boots: "long shoes"
半袖はんそで (hansode)Short sleeves: "half sleeves"
長袖ながそで (nagasode)Long sleeves: "long sleeves"
寝間着ねまき (nemaki)Pajamas: "sleeping room wear"

Tips for Remembering Japanese Clothing Kanji

Look for the Clothing Radical

The radical 衤(koromo-hen, "clothing") appears in many clothing kanji: 袋, 袖, 袴, 襟, 裸. When you see this radical on the left side of a kanji, it often relates to clothing or fabric.

Learn Through Shopping

Practice by reading clothing tags and store signs in Japanese. Department stores (百貨店 hyakkaten) label sections with kanji: 紳士服 (men's clothing), 婦人服 (women's clothing), 子供服 (children's clothing).

Body Part Combinations

Many clothing items combine body parts with clothing kanji: 手袋 (hand + bag = gloves), 靴下 (shoes + below = socks), 上着 (above + wear = jacket), 下着 (below + wear = underwear).

Collect Clothing Cards

Use our gamified card collection to master clothing kanji. Earn XP, level up, and build your personal Jisho dictionary with every kanji you learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the kanji for clothes in Japanese?

The most common kanji for clothes is 服 (fuku). It appears in many compounds: 洋服 (youfuku/Western clothes), 和服 (wafuku/Japanese clothes), 衣服 (ifuku/clothing), 制服 (seifuku/uniform). The related kanji 着 (ki) means "to wear" and appears in 着物 (kimono/things to wear).

What is the difference between kimono and yukata?

A 着物 (kimono) is a formal garment typically made of silk with multiple layers, worn for ceremonies and special occasions year-round. A 浴衣 (yukata) is a casual, lightweight cotton garment originally worn after bathing, now commonly worn at summer festivals (夏祭り natsu-matsuri) and hot spring resorts (温泉 onsen). Yukata are simpler to put on and much less expensive.

How do you say "to wear" in Japanese?

Japanese uses different verbs depending on what body part the clothing covers: 着る (kiru) for upper body, 履く (haku) for lower body and shoes, かぶる (kaburu) for hats, する (suru) for accessories like ties and watches, and はめる (hameru) for rings and gloves. This specificity is unique to Japanese.

Why do Japanese people take off shoes indoors?

Removing shoes (靴を脱ぐ kutsu wo nugu) at the entrance (玄関 genkan) is a deeply rooted cultural practice. Japanese homes traditionally have tatami (畳) mat floors that are easily damaged. The practice also reflects the separation between the outside world (外 soto) and the clean interior (内 uchi).

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