Japanese word

生地

Pronunciation

Romajikiji

Meaning

  • nounfabric

Example

この生地は柔らかいです。ko no ki ji wa yawa ra ka i de su

This fabric is soft.

Illustration for 生地 (fabric)

More examples

夏は生地の薄い服を選びます。natsu wa ki ji no usu i fuku o era bi ma su

In summer, I choose clothes made of thin fabric.

Core concept

Refers to the underlying material or substance and the feel it has, whether it is woven cloth, unbaked dough, or a material's texture.

Common phrases

  • 生地が薄いki ji ga usu i

    thin fabric

  • 生地が厚いki ji ga atsu i

    thick fabric

  • 生地を選ぶki ji o era bu

    choose fabric

Similar words

布地nunoji: Cloth used as material for making clothes and other items.
布nuno: A piece or length of cloth used for making or covering things.
織物orimono: Cloth made by weaving threads together.

Definition in Japanese

衣服などを作るための、織ったり編んだりした材料。i fuku na do o tsuku ru ta me no o tta ri a n da ri shi ta zai ryō

Word origin

The native Japanese compound 生地 (kiji) combines 生 (ki, "raw" or "unprocessed") and 地 (ji, "base" or "material"), expressing material in its original state.

Usage tips

  • In cooking, 生地 (kiji) covers both dough and batter, while English distinguishes the two by consistency.

Other meanings

  • doughnoun
  • texturenoun

Related words

  • 生地感kijikanfabric texturenoun

Word lists with this word