coat worn over a kimono; hifu
A traditional Japanese overcoat worn over a kimono, often by women and children, especially for formal occasions or ceremonies like Shichi-Go-San.
At the Shichi-Go-San festival, my daughter wore a hifu over her kimono.
祖母の箪笥から古い被布が出てきた。
An old hifu came out of my grandmother's chest of drawers.
A haori is a hip- or thigh-length kimono jacket worn by both men and women, while a hifu is a shorter, often padded overcoat traditionally for women and children.
A michiyuki is a coat-like outer garment worn over kimono, typically with a square neckline and a tie closure, whereas a hifu is more like a short cape or jacket.
Standard kanji spelling for this traditional garment.
Rarely used kanji form.
Rarely used kanji form.
The word 被布 (hifu) is a native Japanese term. The kanji 被 means 'cover' or 'put on', and 布 means 'cloth', reflecting its function as a cloth covering worn over kimono. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.