fine clothes; gorgeous attire
Refers to beautiful, splendid clothing; often used in literary or poetic contexts. The word is somewhat rare on its own and is most commonly encountered in the compound 綺羅星 (きらぼし), meaning 'glittering stars' or 'galaxy of stars', metaphorically describing a gathering of brilliant people.
Nobles dressed in fine clothes gathered at the palace.
The expression 'like a galaxy of stars' describes a scene where talented people are lined up in splendor.
She wore gorgeous attire on stage and captivated the audience.
The nobles gathered at the banquet dressed in the utmost finery.
綺羅 describes gorgeous, splendid attire, while 粗末 describes plain, shabby or poor-quality clothing—its direct opposite in feel.
Standard kanji spelling; the word is often used in the compound 綺羅星 (きらぼし).
Kana spelling is sometimes used, especially in modern or casual contexts, but the kanji form is more common in literary or traditional usage.
The kanji 綺 (beautiful, figured cloth) and 羅 (thin silk, gauze) combine to suggest fine, luxurious clothing. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used in classical Japanese literature to describe splendid attire.