JLPT · Level 111
30 words
Japanese word
衣食住
Pronunciation
Romajiishokujū
Meaning
- nounnecessities of life
Example
人には衣食住が必要です。hito ni wa i shoku jū ga hitsu yō de su
People need the necessities of life.
More examples
災害の後も、地域の人々が衣食住に困らないように支援が続きました。sai gai no ato mo chi iki no hito bito ga i shoku jū ni koma ra na i yō ni shi en ga tsuzu ki ma shi ta
After the disaster, aid continued to ensure that local people had basic necessities.
Core concept
Covers the basic material conditions that support daily life: clothing, food, and a place to live.
Common phrases
衣食住に困るi shoku jū ni koma ru
struggle with basic necessities
衣食住を整えるi shoku jū o totono e ru
provide the basic necessities of life
衣食住を確保するi shoku jū o kaku ho su ru
secure basic necessities
Definition in Japanese
生活に必要な衣服、食物、住居の三つ。sei katsu ni hitsu yō na i fuku shoku motsu jū kyo no mit tsu
Word origin
It combines 衣 (i, "clothing"), 食 (shoku, "food"), and 住 (jū, "dwelling"), the Sino-Japanese readings of three basic needs.
Usage tips
- The compound 衣食住 (ishokujū) is used to discuss the basic material side of daily life rather than a single item.