Translation guide
Describes clothing that is old, damaged, or shabby from long use. Japanese has several words that capture different nuances of 'worn-out', from threadbare to tattered.
Clothes that are old and showing signs of wear, but not necessarily falling apart.
Literally 'old clothes'. Commonly used for second-hand or worn clothing. Neutral tone.
彼はいつも古着を着ている。
He always wears worn-out clothes.
Describes clothes that are tattered, ragged, or falling apart. Emphasizes visible damage.
ボロボロの服を着て出かけるのはやめなさい。
Stop going out in worn-out clothes.
Implies clothes that are tired, limp, and have lost their shape from long use. Often used for everyday wear.
このくたびれた服はもう捨てよう。
Let's throw away these worn-out clothes.
Clothes that have become thin and almost transparent from excessive wear or washing.
Specifically means 'frayed' or 'worn through' from friction. Often used for cuffs, collars, or knees.
擦り切れた服を着ていると貧乏に見える。
Wearing threadbare clothes makes you look poor.
Literally 'clothes that have become thin'. A straightforward description.
このシャツは洗濯しすぎて薄くなった。
This shirt has become thin from too much washing.
Clothes that are torn, ripped, or hanging in shreds.
Rags, tattered clothing. Stronger than ボロボロ, often implies poverty or extreme wear.
彼はぼろ服をまとっていた。
He was clad in tattered clothes.
Literally 'clothes like rags'. Emphasizes the ragged appearance.
その服はボロ切れのようだ。
Those clothes are like rags.
Describing the state of being worn-out as an attribute.
Clothes that have been used for a long time and show it. Neutral, factual.
使い古した服を寄付した。
I donated my worn-out clothes.
Specifically for clothes that are worn-out from being worn many times. Similar to 使い古した but focused on wearing.
着古した服でもまだ着られる。
Even worn-out clothes can still be worn.
古着 (ふるぎ) simply means old or second-hand clothes, without necessarily implying damage. ボロボロの服 means clothes that are visibly ragged or falling apart. Use 古着 for 'worn-out' in the sense of 'well-used', and ボロボロ for 'tattered'.
この古着はまだきれいだ。
These old clothes are still clean.
ボロボロの服はもう着られない。
These ragged clothes can't be worn anymore.