Waku Waku Japanese - Language Lesson 43: Dress Up

With the changing of seasons comes the changing of one's wardrobe! To help demonstrate this change of clothing, we're going to play dress up with our very own kisekae ningyou (paper doll)! While the Japanese language does borrow some words for articles of clothing from Western countries, there are a variety of words that even make distinctions on the area of the body the clothing is being worn. So pay close attention and when you're preparing your wardrobe for the cooler temperatures, remember these words!

Kisekae ningyou - paper doll (used in "dress up")
きせかえにんぎょう／着せ替え人形

Kisekae - change clothing (play dress up)
きせかえ／着せ替え

Kiseru - to make someone/something wear
きせる／着せる

Kaeru - to change clothing
かえる／替える

Hazukashii - embarrass
はずかしい／恥ずかしい

Shitagi - underwear
したぎ／下着

Fuku - clothing
ふく／服

Youfuku - Western style clothing
ようふく／洋服

Wafuku - traditional Japanese clothing
わふく／和服

Minzoku ishou - one's home country's traditional dress
みんぞくいしょう／民族衣装

Shatsu - tops/shirts
シャツ

Shatsu wo kiru - to wear a shirt
シャツをきる／シャツを着る

Sode - sleeves
そで／袖

Naga sode - long sleeves
ながそで／長袖

Han sode - short sleeves
はんそで／半袖

Sode wo toosu - (expression) first time wearing an article of clothing (lit. pass your arm through your sleeve
そでをとおす／袖を通す

Zubon - pants
ズボン

Naga zubon - pants that reach the ankles
ながズボン／長ズボン

Han zubon - shorts
はんずぼん／半ズボン

Pantsu uriba wa doko desu ka? - where are the panties sold?
パンツうりばはどこですか／パンツ売り場はどこですか

Suka-to - skirt
スカート

Suka-to/zubon wo haku - to wear a skirt/pants
スカートをはく／スカートを履く
ズボンをはく／ズボンを履く

Kutsu - shoes
くつ／靴

Kutsushita - socks
くつした／靴下

Kutsushita/kutsu wo haku - to wear socks/shoes
くつしたをはく／靴下を履く
くつをはく／靴を履く

Uwagi - outerwear
うわぎ／上着

Haoru - to wear (outerwear)
はおる／羽織る

Uwagi wo haoru - to wear outerwear (jacket)
うわぎをはおる／上着を羽織る

Kaze hikanaidene~! - don't catch a cold!
かぜひかないで〜／風邪ひかないで〜

So when you get dressed each morning, try to remember some of these words!

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