化粧 (けしょう, keshou) Japanese meaning: makeup | Kotomora

化け粧しょう

also: けわい · けそう

け

しょ

う

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

化粧する · noun or participle which takes 'suru'

Form	Positive	Negative
Dictionary	化け粧しょうする	化け粧しょうしない
Polite	化け粧しょうします	化け粧しょうしません
Past polite	化け粧しょうしました	化け粧しょうしませんでした
Past	化け粧しょうした	化け粧しょうしなかった
Te-form	化け粧しょうして	化け粧しょうしないで
Desire	化け粧しょうしたい	化け粧しょうしたくない
Potential	化け粧しょうできる	化け粧しょうできない
Passive	化け粧しょうされる	化け粧しょうされない
Causative	化け粧しょうさせる	化け粧しょうさせない
Causative passive	化け粧しょうさせられる	化け粧しょうさせられない
Volitional	化け粧しょうしよう
Polite volitional	化け粧しょうしましょう
Imperative	化け粧しょうしろ	化け粧しょうするな
Conditional	化け粧しょうすれば	化け粧しょうしなければ
Tara conditional	化け粧しょうしたら	化け粧しょうしなかったら

Meanings

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb

makeup; cosmetics; putting on makeup

Refers to makeup as a substance or appearance, and to applying makeup with 化粧する or 化粧をする. The verb is commonly used intransitively for putting makeup on oneself.

毎まい朝あさ、出でかける

Kanji

化change, take the form of, influence
粧cosmetics, adorn (one's person)
仮sham, temporary, interim

Transitive / intransitive

化粧する is often used intransitively for putting makeup on oneself (彼女は化粧する, 'she puts on makeup'), but it can also take an object as in 顔を化粧する ('to apply makeup to one's face').

Related words· 7

メイクN3sense 1
メイク is a casual loanword used mainly for personal makeup or styling, while 化粧 is the standard kanji term that also appears in formal or technical compounds.
装そう飾しょくN1sense 2
装飾 refers broadly to decoration or ornamentation, whereas 化粧 in its 'surface finish' sense focuses specifically on dressing up a surface's outward appearance.
彩いろどる
化粧する is the plain, everyday word for putting on makeup, while 彩る is a more literary or descriptive way to say the same thing.
粉ふん飾しょく
化粧 is the everyday modern word for putting on makeup, while 粉飾 in this sense is archaic and rarely used today.

Show 3 more

美び容ようN2
化粧 refers specifically to applying makeup, while 美容 covers the whole range of beauty care including skincare, treatments, and overall appearance.
白粉おしろいN1
白粉 refers specifically to the white powder product, while 化粧 is the general act or result of applying makeup.
メイクアップ
化粧 is the native Japanese word covering the whole act of applying cosmetics (including skincare steps), whereas メイクアップ focuses on the decorative makeup itself and sounds more modern/fashion-oriented.

Opposites

素す顔がおN1sense 1
素顔 means a bare, unmade-up face, the direct opposite of wearing 化粧.

Don't confuse with

化け粧しょう品ひんN3sense 1
化粧品 refers to the physical cosmetic products themselves, while 化粧 refers to the makeup look or the act of applying it.
コスメ
化粧 refers to the act of applying makeup, while コスメ refers to the products themselves.

Word family· 36

化け粧しょう直なおし
touching up one's makeup · renovation; remodeling; redecoration
厚あつ化げ粧しょう
thick makeup; heavy makeup
薄うす化げ粧しょう
light makeup; natural makeup · light covering of snow; dusting of snow
雪ゆき化げ粧

Written forms

化粧Usage100%
- けしょう
  Standard, high-frequency spelling and reading for makeup and related decorative-surface uses.
- けわい
  Older or literary reading; not the normal modern reading of this spelling.
- けそう
  out-dated reading

Etymology

The common spelling 化粧 is a Sino-Japanese-style compound using 化, associated with change or transformation, and 粧, associated with adornment or makeup. The rare variant 仮粧 is attested but not the normal modern spelling.

Meanings

Usage patterns