襟えり

え

り

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

The part of a shirt, coat, kimono, jacket, or similar garment around the neck; also covers lapels and collar-like neckbands.

シャツの襟えりが少すこし汚よごれている。
The collar of the shirt is a little dirty.
寒さむいのでコートの襟えりを立たてた。
It was cold, so I turned up the collar of my coat.

noun

nape of the neck; scruff of the neck

Limited or old-fashioned as a standalone body-part word; modern Japanese more often uses うなじ, 首筋, or 襟首 for the nape or scruff.

古ふるい用よう法ほうでは、「襟えり」が首くびの後うしろ、つまりうなじを指さすことがある。
In older usage, 襟 can refer to the back of the neck, that is, the nape.

See all 85 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

襟えりを立たてるto turn up one's collar
寒さむかったので襟えりを立たてて歩あるいた。
It was cold, so I turned up my collar and walked.
〈人ひと〉の襟えりをつかむto grab someone by the collar
彼かれは怒いかって相あい手ての襟えりをつかんだ。
He got angry and grabbed the other person by the collar.
襟えりが汚よごれるfor a collar to get dirty
白しろいシャツの襟えりがすぐ汚よごれる。
The collar of a white shirt gets dirty quickly.
襟えりを開あけるto open (loosen) one's collar
暑あついので襟えりを少すこし開あけた。
It was hot, so I loosened my collar a little.

Expressions

襟えりを正ただすstraighten oneself; compose oneself; take a serious attitude
襟えりの折おり返かえしlapel

Kanji

襟collar, neck, lapel
衿neck, collar, lapel
領jurisdiction, dominion, territory

Related words

襟えり首くび sense 2
襟首 is the natural modern word for the nape or scruff of the neck; 襟 alone in this sense sounds old-fashioned or literary.
うなじ sense 2
うなじ is the standard modern term for the nape of the neck, while 襟 used for this meaning is dated and rarely heard in everyday speech.
カラー
襟 is the native Japanese word for a collar, especially in traditional or general clothing contexts, while カラー is a loanword that sounds more modern or Western.
襟えり元もと
襟 is the collar itself, the piece of the garment, while 襟元 is the area around or near that collar.

Opposites

裾すそN1
襟 is the collar at the top of a garment, forming a natural opposite to 裾, the hem at the bottom.

Don't confuse with

首くびN5sense 1
首 refers to the neck itself as a body part, whereas 襟 refers to the collar of a garment that wraps around the neck.
袖そでN3
襟 refers to the collar or neckline of a garment, while 袖 refers to the sleeve that covers the arm.

Counted with

枚まいN3sense 1
襟 is counted with 枚 when referring to a flat, detachable collar piece, such as a 半襟.

Word family· 33

襟えり足あし
hairline at the nape; nape of the neck
襟えり元もと
around the neck; nape · collar area; front of collar
襟えり首くび
nape of the neck
エリマキトカゲ
frilled lizard; frill-necked lizard
襟えり巻まきN1
scarf; muffler

Show 9 more

丸まる襟えり
round collar
共とも襟えり
same-colored neckband
半はん襟えり
detachable collar for under-kimono; han-eri
台だい襟えり
neckband; collar band
折おり襟えり
turned-down collar; lapel
白しろ襟えり
white collar; white lapel
襞ひだ襟えり
ruff; ruffled collar
襟えり章しょう
lapel badge; collar badge
襟えり腰こし
height of the neck; neckline height

See all 33 in Explore →

Written forms

襟えりUsage47%
Standard and common kanji spelling for a garment collar or lapel.
衿えりUsage24%
Alternative kanji spelling, often encountered in clothing-related contexts; 襟 is the safer standard form for general writing.
エリUsage18%
えりUsage11%
領えり
Rare attested spelling for えり; use 襟 in ordinary modern writing.

Etymology

A native Japanese word written with kanji conventionally associated with the collar or neck area. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; 襟 is the standard modern spelling, with 衿 as an alternative and 領 as a rare spelling in this reading.