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.
| Item | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothes | 服 | ふく | fuku | N4 |
| To Wear | 着 | き(きる) | ki (kiru) | N4 |
| Kimono | 着物 | きもの | kimono | N3 |
| Yukata | 浴衣 | ゆかた | yukata | N2 |
| Hakama | 袴 | はかま | hakama | N1 |
| Obi Sash | 帯 | おび | obi | N2 |
| Shoes | 靴 | くつ | kutsu | N4 |
| Hat / Cap | 帽子 | ぼうし | boushi | N4 |
| Socks | 靴下 | くつした | kutsushita | N4 |
| Gloves | 手袋 | てぶくろ | tebukuro | N3 |
| Jacket / Coat | 上着 | うわぎ | uwagi | N3 |
| Underwear | 下着 | したぎ | shitagi | N3 |
| Western Clothes | 洋服 | ようふく | youfuku | N3 |
| Japanese Clothes | 和服 | わふく | wafuku | N2 |
| Bag / Sack | 袋 | ふくろ | fukuro | N3 |
| Sleeve | 袖 | そで | sode | N1 |
| Collar | 襟 | えり | eri | N1 |
| Silk | 絹 | きぬ | kinu | N1 |
| Cotton | 綿 | めん | men | N2 |
| Leather | 革 | かわ | kawa | N2 |
All Japanese Clothing Kanji Explained
Explore each clothing kanji with its readings, literal meaning breakdown, and example sentences used in everyday Japanese.
Example:
新しい服を買いました。
Atarashii fuku wo kaimashita.
I bought new clothes.
Example:
お正月に着物を着ます。
Oshougatsu ni kimono wo kimasu.
I wear a kimono on New Year's.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Example:
白い靴下を履いています。
Shiroi kutsushita wo haite imasu.
I am wearing white socks.
Example:
冬は手袋が必要です。
Fuyu wa tebukuro ga hitsuyou desu.
Gloves are necessary in winter.
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.
Example:
下着は毎日洗濯します。
Shitagi wa mainichi sentaku shimasu.
I wash my underwear every day.
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.
Example:
祖母は和服が好きです。
Sobo wa wafuku ga suki desu.
My grandmother likes Japanese clothes.
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.
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.
Example:
シャツの襟が汚れています。
Shatsu no eri ga yogorete imasu.
The shirt collar is dirty.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
| Compound | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 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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