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衣装 (いしょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun
clothing ; costume ; outfit
General term for clothes, especially when referring to a coordinated outfit, stage costume, or ceremonial dress. Can be used for both everyday and special attire.
舞ぶ
台たい
衣い
装しょう
の
準じゅん
備び
に
時じ
間かん
が
かかっ
た
。
It took time to prepare the stage costumes.
Written forms 衣い 装しょう Usage 75%
Standard kanji spelling; used for clothing, costumes, and outfits in general.
衣い 裳しょう Usage 23%
Alternate kanji spelling, often seen in theatrical or traditional contexts, but 衣装 is more common overall.
いしょう Usage 3%
Kanji 衣 garment, clothes, dressing Similar words 服ふく 服 is the most common word for everyday clothes. 衣装 often implies a more coordinated, special, or theatrical outfit.
着き 物もの 着物 specifically refers to traditional Japanese clothing, while 衣装 can include Western clothing and costumes.
Etymology Compound of 衣 (clothing) and 装 (attire, decoration). The spelling 衣裳 uses 裳 (skirt, ancient garment) and is more traditional, but both forms are read いしょう.