重かさね

noun

pile; heap; layers; set; course

General noun for things stacked, piled, or layered; used for physical objects like boxes, stones, clothing, etc. Often appears in compound words.

• 書しょ類るいの重かさねが机つくえの上うえにある。

  There is a pile of documents on the desk.

• 寒さむいので服ふくを重かさね着ぎした。

  I wore layers of clothes because it was cold.

counter

counter for stacked or layered things

Used after numbers from the traditional Japanese counting system (ひとつ、ふたつ、みつ...), e.g., ひと重ね (one set/layer), ふた重ね (two sets/layers). Not used with modern Chinese-derived numbers.

• 箱はこをひと重かさねください。

  Please give me one set of boxes.

• 石いしをふた重かさね積つむ。

  Stack two courses of stones.

noun

layers of clothing under an overcoat

Only when written 襲

Traditional term for multiple layers worn beneath an outer garment; now mostly historical or literary. The kanji 襲 is specifically associated with this sense.

• 平へい安あん時じ代だいの貴き族ぞくは何なん枚まいもの襲かさねを着きていた。

  Heian-era nobles wore many layers of clothing under their outer robes.

noun

color combination from layered garments

Only when written 襲

Abbreviation of 襲の色目; refers to the aesthetic effect of colors showing through layered kimono. Highly specialized historical/cultural term.

See also: 襲の色目 (かさねのいろめ)

• 襲かさねの色いろ目めは平へい安あん文ぶん学がくでよく詠よまれた。

  The color combinations of layered garments were often celebrated in Heian literature.