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まとう Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
put on ; wear ; be wrapped in
usually written using kana alone
Describes wearing or draping something over the body, often with a nuance of enveloping or wrapping oneself in clothing, mist, or an atmosphere. More literary than 着る.
The mountain peak was wrapped in mist.
Written forms まとう Usage 83%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 纏う is rare and may not be recognized by all readers.
纏まと う Usage 17%
Kanji form is uncommon and may be encountered mainly in literary or older texts.
Similar words 着き る 着る is the standard verb for wearing clothes on the upper body or full-length garments; まとう is more literary and emphasizes being enveloped or draped.
身み に 着つ ける 身に着ける is a common expression for putting on or wearing accessories, clothes, or acquiring knowledge; まとう is more poetic and less everyday.
Etymology The verb まとう is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 纏 carries meanings of 'wear', 'wrap', or 'tie', but the word itself is not derived from the kanji; the exact derivation is uncertain.
