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Kotomora

装

attire, dress, pretend, disguise, profess

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes12

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

Explore all words using 装 →

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.