Japanese word

木綿

Pronunciation

Romajimomen

Meaning

  • nouncotton

Example

夏は木綿の服を着ます。natsu wa momen no fuku o ki ma su

I wear cotton clothes in summer.

Illustration for 木綿 (cotton)

More examples

このタオルは木綿でできています。ko no ta o ru wa momen de de ki te i ma su

This towel is made of cotton.

Core concept

Describes soft fibers from the cotton plant and the cloth made from them for comfortable everyday use.

Common phrases

  • 木綿のシャツmomen no sha tsu

    cotton shirt

  • 木綿のタオルmomen no ta o ru

    cotton towel

Similar words

綿men: A general term for the soft fiber from the cotton plant and fabric made from it.
コットンkotton: A loanword used for cotton fiber or fabric, especially in product names and clothing labels.

Definition in Japanese

ワタの種子から取った繊維や、それを糸や布にしたもの。wa ta no shu shi ka ra to tta sen i ya so re o ito ya nuno ni shi ta mo no

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 木綿 (momen) combines 木 (moku, "tree") and 綿 (men, "cotton"); its reading comes from the older form 木綿 (mokumen).

Usage tips

  • A clothing label may say cotton to identify the fabric, but cotton does not mean the whole garment.

Word lists with this word