装
attire, dress, pretend, disguise, profess
Readings
On'yomi
- ソウ
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- よそお.う
- よそお.い
Meaning
装 centers on outward presentation: clothing and attire, but also the act of putting on a false appearance, pretending, or disguising one's true self. The idea of professing or claiming something also fits this theme of presenting a front.
Most common words using 装
21 of 509- 装置そうちN3
equipment; device; installation; apparatus
- 装備そうびN1
equipment
- 衣装いしょうN1
clothing; costume; outfit; garment; dress
- 武装ぶそうN1
arms; armament; taking up arms; arming oneself
- 塗装とそうN1
coating; painting
- 装着そうちゃく
equipping; installing; fitting; mounting; putting on
- 服装ふくそうN3
attire; dress; clothes; clothing; costume; garb
- 装飾そうしょくN1
ornament; decoration
- 偽装ぎそうN1
camouflage; disguise
- 改装かいそうN1
remodelling; remodeling; reorganization; reorganisation
- 装うよそおうN1
to dress (oneself in); to attire oneself in; to adorn; to decorate
- 内装ないそう
interior design; interior; upholstery
- 装甲そうこう
armoring; armouring; armor; armour
- 仮装かそう
costume; fancy dress; masquerade; disguise
- 包装ほうそうN2
packing; wrapping
- 舗装ほそうN1
paving (a road); surfacing (with asphalt, concrete, etc.); pavement
- 新装しんそう
redecoration; remodelling; remodeling; refurbishment
- 装いよそおい
dress; outfit; equipment; makeup; adornment; guise; get-up
- 正装せいそうN1
full dress; formal dress; uniform
- 装丁そうてい
binding (of a book)
- 核武装かくぶそう
nuclear arms
Study
Etymology
装 is the modern simplified form of 裝. The older form combines 衣 (clothing) with 壯 (strong, robust), which likely contributed the sound and the idea of adorning or equipping. The modern top 壮 is a simplification of 壯.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 壮 suggests strength or robustness, and the bottom 衣 is clothing. Imagine putting on strong, impressive attire to present a bold front—whether it's real or just a disguise.
Reading mnemonic
For ソウ, picture sewing a costume: sew -> ソウ. You sew clothing (衣) to create an outfit or disguise.