How to Say to Wear in Japanese

How to Say to Wear in Japanese
Different ways to say Wear in Japanese

1. 履く(Haku): Clothing You Pull Up (From the Waist Down)
Haku is used for anything you’d wear below your hips. Examples include pants, jeans, underwear, socks, shoes, and leggings.

Examples:
1. 今日は新しい靴を履いて行こう。
(Kyō wa atarashii kutsu o haite ikō.)
I’m going to wear my new pair of shoes today.

2. 青いスカートを履いているのが、私の母です。
(Aoi sukāto o haiteiru no ga watashi no haha desu.)
The one wearing a blue skirt is my mother.

3. 間違えて穴の空いたジーパンを履いてきちゃった！
(Machigaete ana no aita jīpan o haite kichatta!)
I wore the pair of jeans with holes by accident!

Note: In Japanese, we say jīpan to say jeans. This word comes from a combination and shortening of “jeans” and “pants.” Although the younger generation calls them “ジーンズ (jīnzu) nowadays.

2. かぶる (Kaburu): To Put Something on Your Head
Kaburu is generally used for anything that goes on your head, like hats, hoodies, wigs, and crowns.

Examples:
1. 今日は寝癖がひどいから帽子をかぶろう！
(Kyō wa neguse ga hidoi kara bōshi o kaburō!)
I have a terrible case of bed hair today, so I’m gonna wear a hat!

2. 女王は宝石のついた冠をかぶった。
(Jō-ōu wa hōseki no tsuita kanmuri o kabutta.)
The queen wore a crown with gemstones.

3. 着る (Kiru): To Wear; To Put Something on Your Upper Body (From the Neck Down)
As already mentioned, this is the most general way to say to wear. You use it when you’re talking about wearing t-shirts, sweaters, jackets, or even pajamas. Here are examples of how you could use it in a sentence:

Examples:
1. 彼女は黄色いジャケットを着ています。
(Kanojo wa kiiroi jaketto o kite imasu.)
She’s wearing a yellow jacket.

2. 今日はセーターを着ないと寒いね。
(Kyō wa sētā o kinai to samui ne.)
It’s cold today without a sweater.

3. パジャマを着て寝ないと風邪をひくよ！
(Pajama o kite nenai to kaze o hiku yo!)
Wear your pajamas to your bed, or you’ll catch a cold!

4. かける (Kakeru): For Glasses/Sunglasses
This word is used for wearing glasses – although it has different meanings in other contexts too. Kakeru means “to hang on or to lean against something. In the context of wearing clothing items or accessories, though, you only ever use it for wearing glasses. You are “hanging” glasses over your ears.

Examples:
1. メガネをかけると顔の印象が変わる。
(Megane o kakeru to kao no inshō ga kawaru.)
My face looks different with glasses on.

2. 写真撮影のときはサングラスをかけられません。
(Shashin satsuei no toki wa sangurasu o kakeraremasen.)
You may not wear your sunglasses during the photo session.

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