Translation guide
A sleeveless undershirt or athletic top, often called a tank top or vest in different English varieties. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is タンクトップ, but other terms exist depending on style and context.
A lightweight, sleeveless garment worn as underwear or casual outerwear, typically made of cotton or synthetic fabric.
The most common and widely understood term for a sleeveless top, used for both undershirts and casual wear. Borrowed from English 'tank top'.
I often wear tank tops in summer.
I'm wearing a white tank top as underwear.
Literally 'running shirt', often used for athletic sleeveless tops or undershirts, especially those with wider armholes. Common among older generations.
My dad always wears a sleeveless undershirt.
From 'no sleeve', used for any sleeveless garment, but often implies a more fashionable or feminine top rather than a basic undershirt.
This sleeveless top is cute, isn't it?
General term for underwear or undergarments. Can refer to a singlet when context makes it clear, but not specific to sleeveless tops.
I changed my underwear.
A one-piece, tight-fitting sleeveless garment worn in sports like wrestling or track and field.
In British English, 'singlet' often means a sleeveless undershirt (vest), while in American English it's called a tank top or A-shirt. In sports, 'singlet' refers to a one-piece wrestling or track uniform. Japanese uses different terms for these concepts.
タンクトップ is the modern, general term for tank tops. ランニングシャツ is older and often associated with traditional men's undershirts or athletic wear. Young people rarely use ランニングシャツ for fashion items.
Young people say 'tank top' rather than 'running shirt'.
The track and field uniform is a singlet type.