Japanese word

繕う

Pronunciation

Romajitsukurou

Meaning

  • verbmend

Example

破れた服を繕います。yabu re ta fuku o tsukuro i ma su

I mend torn clothes.

Illustration for 繕う (mend)

More examples

祖母は古い着物を繕っています。so bo wa furu i ki mono o tsukuro tte i ma su

My grandmother is mending an old kimono.

Core concept

Centers on restoring something damaged or torn to a usable, presentable condition.

Common phrases

  • 着物を繕うki mono o tsukuro u

    mend a kimono

  • 破れを繕うyabu re o tsukuro u

    mend a tear

Similar words

直すnaosu: To return a damaged or defective thing to a usable condition.
修理するshūrisuru: To fix damage or faults in a machine, tool, or other object.
修繕するshūzensuru: To restore an item by repairing worn, broken, or damaged parts.
補修するhoshūsuru: To fix a limited area of damage while leaving the main object intact.

Definition in Japanese

破れたりほつれたりした衣類などを、縫ったり当て布をしたりして直すこと。yabu re ta ri ho tsu re ta ri shi ta i rui na do o nu tta ri a te nuno o shi ta ri shi te nao su ko to

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 繕う (tsukurō) comes from the older form つくろふ (tsukurofu), which had the sense of repairing or putting something in order.

Usage tips

  • The verb 繕う (tsukurō) commonly describes a small repair that restores a damaged surface, so it suits a torn sleeve rather than replacing the whole garment.

Other meanings

  • darnverb

Related words

  • 繕いtsukuroimendingnoun

Word lists with this word