Japanese word

衣類

Pronunciation

Romajiirui

Meaning

  • nounclothes

Example

冬の衣類を箱に入れます。fuyu no i rui o bako ni i re ma su

I put my winter clothes in a box.

Illustration for 衣類 (clothes)

More examples

雨でぬれた衣類は、風通しのよい場所で乾かします。ame de nu re ta i rui wa kaze tō shi no yo i ba sho de kawa ka shi ma su

I dry clothes wet from the rain in a well-ventilated place.

Core concept

Covers garments as one general category rather than as separate items.

Common phrases

  • 衣類を洗濯するi rui o sen taku su ru

    wash clothes

  • 衣類を収納するi rui o shū nō su ru

    store clothes

  • 衣類を修理するi rui o shū ri su ru

    repair clothes

Similar words

服fuku: Clothing worn on the body in ordinary daily speech.
衣服ifuku: Garments worn on the body, viewed as a defined category of items.
被服hifuku: Clothing classified as a formal category in institutional or administrative contexts.

Definition in Japanese

身に着けるための衣服の総称。mi ni tsu ke ru ta me no i fuku no sō shō

Word origin

衣 (i, "clothing") and 類 (rui, "kind or group") combine in the Sino-Japanese compound 衣類 (irui) to name a group of garments.

Usage tips

  • English treats clothes as a plural-only noun in ordinary use, while 衣類 (irui) can cover the same range without marking number.

Word lists with this word