更こう衣い

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

changing clothes; change of clothes

Formal or literary term for changing one's clothes; often used in historical or ceremonial contexts. In modern casual speech, 着替え is more common.

• 式しき典てんの前まえに控ひかえ室しつで更こう衣いした。

  I changed clothes in the anteroom before the ceremony.

• 旅りょ館かんに着つくとすぐに浴衣ゆかたに更こう衣いする。

  Upon arriving at the inn, I immediately change into a yukata.

noun

lady court attendant

Archaic term for a female attendant at the imperial court who assisted with changing clothes. Not used in modern Japanese.

• 平へい安あん時じ代だいの更こう衣いは、天皇てんのうの衣い類るいの管かん理りを担たん当とうした。

  In the Heian period, a kōi was responsible for managing the emperor's clothing.