「着る」- Detailed Usage of "To Wear"

Explanation

「着る」 (きる) is a commonly used verb in Japanese that means "to wear (clothes)." Its dictionary form is 「着る」, pronounced as 「きる」. This verb is primarily used to describe wearing certain types of clothing, such as shirts, dresses, and other garments that cover the upper body or the entire body. This article will provide a detailed explanation of the basic usage, advanced applications, and distinctions between 「着る」 and similar verbs.

Grammar Patterns

Grammar Point	Conjugation	Explanation
Dictionary Form	着る	The basic form meaning "to wear" clothes.
ます Form	着ます	The polite form meaning "to wear" clothes.
て Form	着て	The connective form used to link with other verbs.

Basic Usage and Examples

• 彼かれは新あたらしいシャツを着る。
• Kare wa atarashii shatsu o kiru.
• He wears a new shirt.
  

• 毎朝まいあさ、私わたしは制服せいふくを着ます。
• Maiasa, watashi wa seifuku o kimasu.
• Every morning, I wear my uniform.
  

• 彼女かのじょは美うつくしいドレスを着ている。
• Kanojo wa utsukushii doresu o kite iru.
• She is wearing a beautiful dress.
  

Deep Dive

Honorific Form

In honorific language, the respectful form of 「着る」 is 「お召しになる」, with its polite form being 「お召しになります」. This form is typically used to show respect, especially towards elders or superiors.

• 社長しゃちょうは新あたらしいスーツをお召しになります。
• Shachou wa atarashii suutsu o omeshi ni narimasu.
• The president is wearing a new suit.
  

Passive Form

The passive form of 「着る」 is 「着られる」, which is used to indicate that someone is being made to wear something.

• 子供こどもは母親ははおやに新あたらしい服ふくを着られた。
• Kodomo wa hahaoya ni atarashii fuku o kirareta.
• The child was made to wear new clothes by their mother.
  

Comparisons and Distinctions

「着る」 vs. 「履く」

「着る」 is used for clothing that covers the upper body or the entire body, while 「履く」 is specifically used for clothing that covers the lower body, such as pants or shoes. It's important to choose the correct verb based on the type of clothing.

Vocabulary	Usage Explanation	Example
着る	Used for upper body or full-body clothing	彼かれは新あたらしいシャツを着る。

Real-Life Scenarios

Dialogue Examples

Here are some real-life dialogue examples to help better understand the usage of 「着る」.

• A: 明日あしたのパーティーに何なにを着て行いく？
• Ashita no paatii ni nani o kite iku?
• What are you going to wear to the party tomorrow?
  

• B: 新あたらしいドレスを着て行いくつもりだよ。
• Atarashii doresu o kite iku tsumori da yo.
• I plan to wear a new dress.
  

• C: このシャツを着てみてください。
• Kono shatsu o kite mite kudasai.
• Please try on this shirt.
  

• D: ありがとう、とても気きに入いりました。
• Arigatou, totemo ki ni irimashita.
• Thank you, I really like it.
  

Important Notes

When using 「着る」, it's important to pay attention to its conjugations and the correct use of honorific forms. Additionally, choosing the appropriate verb based on the type of clothing is a crucial aspect of learning Japanese.

Summary

「着る」, as a verb meaning "to wear," has a wide range of applications in Japanese. Through this article, we've gained a deeper understanding of its basic usage, advanced applications, and distinctions from similar verbs. Correctly using 「着る」 will make your Japanese expressions more natural and accurate.