Japanese word

半袖

Pronunciation

Romajihansode

Meaning

  • nounshort sleeves

Example

この服は半袖です。ko no fuku wa han sode de su

This garment has short sleeves.

Illustration for 半袖 (short sleeves)

More examples

店では半袖の服がよく売れます。mise de wa han sode no fuku ga yo ku u re ma su

Short-sleeved clothes sell well in the store.

Core concept

Describes clothing whose sleeves stop around the middle of the arm rather than reaching the wrist.

Common phrases

  • 半袖を着るhan sode o ki ru

    wear short sleeves

  • 半袖の服han sode no fuku

    short-sleeved clothes

Similar words

長袖nagasode: A sleeve style or garment with sleeves that reach the wrist or extend beyond it.
七分袖shichibusode: A sleeve style or garment with sleeves that end below the elbow and above the wrist.
五分袖gofunsode: A sleeve style or garment with sleeves that end around the elbow.

Definition in Japanese

袖の長さが腕の途中までの衣服。sode no naga sa ga ude no to chū ma de no i fuku

Word origin

半袖 (hansode) combines 半 (han, "half") and 袖 (sode, "sleeve"), describing sleeves that are about half the length of full-length sleeves.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 半袖 (hansode) can describe either the sleeve style or a garment, while English uses "short sleeves" as a noun and "short-sleeved" before a clothing noun.

Opposites

Word lists with this word