If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for
"Clothes", you've come to the right place!
The Japanese Kanji for
"Clothes"
is "衣".
This kanji has 2 readings:
Its kunyomi reading is "Koromo".
Its onyomi reading is "I".
kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.
If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 2 parts:
The radical "亠" means "Lid"
. And The radical "𧘇" means "Garment"
.
Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.
What does the kanji "衣" mean in japanese?
"衣" means
"Clothes"
.
Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Fourth Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N2 exam.
Here are some words that use this kanji:
衣類: "Clothing". The Japanese noun '衣類 (いるい)' refers to 'clothing' or 'garments'. It is a general term used to describe items of clothing collectively, such as shirts, pants, dresses, and other wearable items. This word is often used in contexts related to laundry, storage, or fashion. For example: I washed my clothing「衣類を洗った」(いるいをあらった). She has a lot of clothing「彼女は衣類をたくさん持っている」(かのじょはいるいをたくさんもっている). The word can also be used in formal or business contexts, such as in the clothing industry or when discussing clothing care. 衣服: "Clothing". The Japanese noun '衣服 (いふく)' refers to 'clothing' or 'garments'. It is a general term used to describe items worn on the body, such as shirts, pants, dresses, etc. This word is often used in formal or written contexts, but can also be used in everyday conversation. For example: I bought new clothing「新しい衣服を買いました」(あたらしいいふくをかいました). This store sells high-quality clothing「この店は高品質の衣服を売っています」(このみせはこうひんしつのいふくをうっています). The word '衣服' can also be used in more specific contexts, such as traditional Japanese clothing like kimono or yukata. 衣食住: "Necessities". The Japanese noun '衣食住 (いしょくじゅう)' refers to the basic necessities of life: clothing (衣), food (食), and shelter (住). It is often used to discuss the fundamental aspects of living or to emphasize the importance of these basic needs. For example: The government must ensure the necessities of life for its citizens「政府は国民の衣食住を確保しなければならない」(せいふはこくみんのいしょくじゅうをかくほしなければならない). In modern society, the concept of '衣食住' has expanded to include other essentials like healthcare and education. This term is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and reflects the importance of simplicity and practicality in daily life. 衣: "Clothing". The Japanese noun '衣 (い)' refers to 'clothing' or 'garments'. It is often used in a formal or literary context to describe attire or apparel. This word can be found in compound words or phrases related to clothing, such as '衣装 (いしょう)' meaning 'costume' or 'outfit'. Example sentences include: She wore beautiful clothing「彼女は美しい衣を着ていた」(かのじょはうつくしいいをきていた). The clothing was made of silk「その衣は絹でできていた」(そのいはきぬでできていた). Note that '衣' is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to '服 (ふく)', which is a more general term for clothing. 衣装: "Costume". The Japanese noun '衣装 (いしょう)' refers to 'costume' or 'attire'. It is commonly used to describe clothing worn for specific occasions, performances, or roles, such as traditional outfits, stage costumes, or ceremonial garments. For example: She wore a beautiful costume「彼女は美しい衣装を着ていた」(かのじょはうつくしいいしょうをきていた). The actors changed into their costumes「俳優たちは衣装に着替えた」(はいゆうたちはいしょうにきがえた). This word can also refer to elaborate or decorative clothing in general. To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.
But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.
Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.
This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:
The hiragana "い" is read as "i". The hiragana "こ" is read as "ko". The hiragana "ろ" is read as "ro". And The hiragana "も" is read as "mo".