なりふり

な

り

ふ

り

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

appearance; dress; one's look

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a person's outward appearance, especially clothing and overall style. Often used in set phrases like なりふり構わず (without caring about one's appearance).

彼かれはいつもなりふりに気きをつかっている。
He always pays attention to his appearance.
なりふり構かまわず働はたらいた。
I worked without caring how I looked.

See all 9 example sentences ›

Kanji

形shape, form, style
振shake, wave, wag

Related words

身みなり
身なり also means personal appearance or dress, but is more common and neutral. なりふり often appears in the phrase なりふり構わず, emphasizing disregard for one's looks.
外がい見けん
外見 is a broader term for outward appearance, not limited to clothing. なりふり is more specifically about how one is dressed and presented.

Built from

なり+振ふる

Written forms

なりふりUsage92%
Kana spelling is standard; the kanji form 形振り is rare and may not be recognized by many readers.
形なり振ふりUsage8%
Kanji form is seldom used; learners should prefer the kana spelling.

Etymology

Compound of なり (shape, form) and ふり (appearance, manner). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used since at least the Edo period to refer to one's outward appearance and attire.