Japanese word

和服

Pronunciation

Romajiwafuku

Meaning

  • nountraditional Japanese clothing

Example

祖母は和服を着ています。so bo wa wa fuku o ki te i ma su

My grandmother is wearing traditional Japanese clothing.

Illustration for 和服 (traditional Japanese clothing)

More examples

京都を訪れた外国人観光客が、レンタルの和服で町を歩いていました。kyō to o otozu re ta gai koku jin kan kō kyaku ga re n ta ru no wa fuku de machi o aru i te i ma shi ta

A foreign tourist visiting Kyoto was walking around town in rented traditional Japanese clothing.

Core concept

Refers to clothing shaped by Japanese tradition rather than modern Western dress.

Common phrases

  • 和服に着替えるwa fuku ni ki ga e ru

    change into traditional Japanese clothing

  • 和服を着るwa fuku o ki ru

    wear traditional Japanese clothing

Similar words

着物kimono: A traditional Japanese robe with a front opening and overlapping panels.

Definition in Japanese

日本の伝統的な衣服の総称。nihon no den tō teki na i fuku no sō shō

Word origin

和服 (wafuku) combines 和 (wa, "Japanese style") and 服 (fuku, "clothing"), and the term contrasts with 洋服 (yōfuku), Western-style clothing.

Usage tips

  • In English, kimono often names one well-known type of 和服 (wafuku), while 和服 (wafuku) covers a broader range of traditional garments.

Opposites

Word lists with this word