ichidan verb, transitive verb
dress (someone); put clothes on (someone)
Transitive verb for putting clothes on another person, such as a child or someone who needs help. The person being dressed is marked with に.
娘に新しいワンピースを着せた。
I dressed my daughter in a new dress.
寒いので、子どもにコートを着せてください。
It's cold, so please put a coat on the child.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
cover; coat; plate; gild; veneer
Used for covering a surface with a layer of something: paint, gold, veneer, etc. The object being covered is marked with に, and the covering material with を. 被せる is a common alternative kanji for this sense.
職人が仏像に金箔を着せた。
The craftsman gilded the Buddha statue with gold leaf.
板にニスを着せてから磨いた。
I coated the board with varnish and then polished it.
ichidan verb, transitive verb
pin a crime on; lay blame on; give a bad name
Metaphorical use: to falsely attribute a crime, blame, or bad reputation to someone. The target person is marked with に, and the accusation or bad name with を. Common in expressions like 罪を着せる or 濡れ衣を着せる.
彼は無実の同僚に罪を着せた。
He pinned the crime on an innocent colleague.
そんな濡れ衣を着せられては困る。
I won't stand for having such a false accusation laid on me.