Translation guide
A guide to expressing 'knickers' in Japanese, covering women's underwear, children's shorts, and historical/regional uses.
The most common meaning: women's underpants, typically in British English.
The standard loanword for women's panties. Widely understood and used in everyday conversation.
I bought new knickers.
Often used for women's underwear, especially in product names or slightly more formal contexts. Can also refer to shorts.
I like lace knickers.
General word for underwear. Use with context to specify women's knickers, e.g., 女性用下着 (women's underwear).
I'm looking for women's knickers.
Historical or sportswear: baggy knee-length trousers, often worn for golf or by children in the past.
Direct loanword for knickerbockers. Used in historical or fashion contexts.
He wore knickers for golf.
General term for shorts. Can be used for children's shorts that resemble knickers, but not specific to the gathered style.
Refers to bloomers, a type of women's athletic shorts historically worn in Japanese schools. Similar to knickers but distinct; use carefully.
In British English, 'knickers' can also refer to children's underpants.
Common word for underpants, used for both children and adults. Context clarifies it's for kids.
I need to buy knickers for the kids.
The direct transliteration ニッカーズ is rarely used and may not be understood. Use パンティー or ショーツ for women's underwear, and ニッカーボッカーズ for the historical trousers.
to wear knickers (unnatural)
子供の頃、半ズボンをよくはいていた。
As a child, I often wore shorts (like knickers).
昔、体育の授業でブルマーを着ていた。
In the past, we wore bloomers (like knickers) in PE class.