also: びゃくえ · びゃくい · はくえ · しろきぬ · しろぎぬ
white clothes; white robe
General term for white garments; can refer to any white clothing or a white robe.
She wore white clothes and looked just like an angel.
white coat; lab coat; doctor's white gown
Only with reading はくい
Specifically the white coat or gown worn by doctors, scientists, pharmacists, and other professionals. Most commonly read はくい.
The doctor put on a white coat and entered the examination room.
Please wear a lab coat in the laboratory.
commoner without rank (in ancient China)
Only with reading はくい / はくえ
Historical term referring to a commoner without official rank in ancient China. Read はくい or はくえ.
In ancient China, 白衣 referred to commoners without official rank.
Only with reading びゃくえ / はくえ / しろきぬ / しろぎぬ
In Buddhist contexts, a layperson as opposed to a monk or priest. Read びゃくえ, はくえ, しろきぬ, or しろぎぬ. The antonym is 緇衣 (しえ), meaning a black-robed priest.
Antonyms: 緇衣 (しえ)
Lay believers gathered at the temple.
The doctor puts on a white coat before the examination.
The researcher took off his lab coat when the experiment was finished.
A nurse in a white coat came into the hospital room.
Rare reading for the historical commoner sense and occasionally the layperson sense.
Rare native Japanese reading for the layperson sense.
Rendaku variant of しろきぬ; rare.