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Kotomora

衣

garment, clothes, dressing

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • イ
  • エ

Kun'yomi

  • ころも
  • きぬ
  • -ぎ

Meaning

衣 centers on clothing: a garment, clothes in general, or the act of dressing. It covers both the physical item and the concept of wearing something.

Most common words using 衣

20 of 188
  • 衣装いしょう
    N1

    clothing; costume; outfit; garment; dress

  • 衣ころも

    clothes; garment

  • 浴衣ゆかた
    N3

    yukata; light cotton kimono worn in the summer or used as a bathrobe

  • 麻衣あさごろも

    linen robe

  • 衣服いふく
    N3

    clothes

  • 白衣はくい
    N1

    white clothes; white robe

  • 衣類いるい
    N2

    clothes; clothing; garments

  • 着衣ちゃくい

    clothes (that one is wearing)

  • 更衣こうい

    changing one's clothes

  • 脱衣だつい
    N1

    undressing; taking off one's clothes; stripping

  • 衣料いりょう
    N1

    clothing

  • 濡れ衣ぬれぎぬ

    false accusations; unfounded suspicion; groundless charge

  • 衣食住いしょくじゅう
    N2

    food, clothing and shelter; necessities of life

  • 衣替えころもがえ

    seasonal change of clothing; changing one's dress for the season

  • 羽衣はごろも

    angel's raiment; robe of feathers

  • 黒衣こくい

    black clothes

  • 衣きぬ

    clothing; garment; dress

  • 地衣ちい

    lichen

  • 救命胴衣きゅうめいどうい

    life jacket; life vest

  • 衣食いしょく

    food and clothing

Explore all words using 衣 →

Study

Etymology

衣 is a pictograph of a traditional upper garment with a collar and sleeves. The modern form retains the basic shape of the collar and draped fabric.

Meaning mnemonic

The top dot and horizontal line suggest a collar, and the sweeping strokes below look like the body and sleeves of a robe. Picture a traditional garment: 衣 is clothing.

Reading mnemonic

For イ, imagine an easy-to-wear garment: easy -> イ, and the clothes slip on effortlessly.