Cette page dans ta langue

English

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A2 verb #1,500 le plus courant 9 min de lecture

着ます

kimasu Top 1,500

At the A1 level, learners are introduced to the absolute basics of daily life vocabulary, and '着ます' (kimasu) is one of the first verbs encountered. It means 'to wear' or 'to put on', but with a very specific rule: it is only used for clothing on the upper body. When you are learning how to describe yourself or others, you need this word to talk about shirts, sweaters, and jackets. At this stage, the focus is on simple, declarative sentences. You learn to say 'I wear a shirt' (シャツを着ます) or 'I will wear a coat' (コートを着ます). It is crucial at this early stage to memorize that Japanese has different verbs for different types of clothing. If you try to use '着ます' for shoes or pants, you will be misunderstood. Therefore, A1 learners practice categorizing vocabulary: shirts and coats go with '着ます', while pants and shoes go with '履きます' (hakimasu). You will also learn the negative form '着ません' (kimasen - do not wear) and the past tense '着ました' (kimashita - wore). Simple questions like '何を着ますか' (What will you wear?) are common practice. The goal at A1 is to build a solid foundation of basic vocabulary and to break the habit of translating the English word 'wear' directly into a single Japanese word.

At the A2 level, the usage of '着ます' expands significantly as learners begin to describe ongoing states and more complex daily routines. The most critical grammar point introduced here is the te-form combined with 'います' (imasu). Learners discover that '着ます' means 'will wear' or 'habitually wear', but to say 'I am wearing' right now, they must use '着ています' (kite imasu). This is a major conceptual leap. You will practice describing people's appearances in detail: 'The person wearing the red shirt is my friend' (赤いシャツを着ている人は私の友達です). At this level, vocabulary related to clothing also expands to include items like suits (スーツ), dresses (ドレス), and traditional clothing like kimonos (着物), all of which use '着ます'. You also learn to connect sentences using the te-form, such as 'コートを着て、出かけます' (I will put on a coat and go out). The potential form '着られます' (kiraremasu - can wear) is also introduced, allowing learners to express whether clothes fit or are appropriate for a situation. A2 learners are expected to navigate shopping scenarios, asking clerks if they can try things on or expressing preferences about what they like to wear.

At the B1 level, learners move beyond simple descriptions and begin to use '着ます' in more nuanced and complex grammatical structures. You will encounter the passive form '着られる' (kirareru), which can be used in contexts where someone is forced to wear something, or in formal descriptions of what is worn by a group. The causative form '着させる' (kisaseru - to make someone wear) becomes important, especially when talking about parents dressing children or uniform requirements at work or school. B1 learners also start to use '着ます' in conditional clauses, such as 'コートを着ないと、風邪をひきますよ' (If you don't wear a coat, you'll catch a cold). You will learn compound verbs and expressions that build upon the stem '着', such as '着替える' (kigaeru - to change clothes) and '着こなす' (kikonasu - to wear stylishly/to pull off an outfit). The vocabulary surrounding the verb becomes more sophisticated, involving discussions about fashion trends, dress codes, and the appropriateness of clothing for specific social events (TPO - Time, Place, Occasion). Reading comprehension at this level will include lifestyle articles and fashion blogs where these variations are frequently used.

At the B2 level, the understanding of '着ます' becomes highly refined, and learners are expected to use it with native-like naturalness. You will explore idiomatic expressions and metaphorical uses of the concept of wearing. While '着ます' itself remains largely literal, related words like '着せる' (kiseru - to put clothes on someone) can be used metaphorically, such as in '罪を着せる' (tsumi o kiseru - to pin a crime on someone). B2 learners can comfortably navigate complex conversations about fashion, discussing materials, cuts, and how certain clothes flatter the body. You will use advanced grammar patterns with the verb, such as '着たまま' (kita mama - leaving clothes on/wearing as is) or '着るべきだ' (kiru beki da - should wear). The distinction between '着る' and other clothing verbs is completely internalized, and learners can effortlessly switch between them in rapid speech. Listening exercises will include fast-paced dialogues from dramas or talk shows where speakers use casual, contracted forms like '着てる' (kiteru) instead of '着ている' (kite iru). Writing tasks might involve composing formal emails regarding dress codes for corporate events.

At the C1 level, learners engage with '着ます' and its related vocabulary in academic, literary, and highly formal contexts. You will encounter the verb in classical literature or historical texts, where older forms or specific kanji readings might be used. The focus shifts to the socio-cultural implications of clothing in Japan. You can discuss the history of the kimono, the transition to Western clothing (洋服 yofuku) during the Meiji era, and how the verb '着る' adapted to these changes. C1 learners understand the subtle nuances of words like '着用する' (chakuyou suru), a highly formal Sino-Japanese equivalent of '着る' used in official documents, signs, and news broadcasts (e.g., 'シートベルトを着用してください' - Please wear your seatbelt). You are capable of writing essays or giving presentations on fashion industry trends, sustainability in clothing, or the psychology of dress, using a rich variety of vocabulary derived from '着'. The ability to understand and produce complex, multi-clause sentences involving the state of wearing, changing, and the cultural significance of attire is expected.

At the C2 level, mastery of '着ます' is absolute, matching that of an educated native speaker. You possess a deep understanding of the etymology of the kanji 着 and its historical evolution. You can effortlessly comprehend and use obscure idioms, regional dialects, and highly specialized terminology related to the textile and fashion industries. C2 learners can analyze literature where clothing is used as a profound literary device or symbol, understanding exactly how the author's choice of verbs (e.g., choosing a specific compound verb over the simple '着る') affects the tone and meaning of the text. You are comfortable in any register, from the most casual street slang regarding fashion to the most elevated, honorific language (敬語 keigo) used in traditional settings like tea ceremonies or high-end kimono boutiques. At this level, the verb '着ます' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a gateway to expressing complex cultural, historical, and personal identities through the medium of the Japanese language.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

着ます en 30 secondes

Used for upper body clothes.
Shirts, coats, dresses, kimonos.
Te-iru form for 'currently wearing'.
Do not use for pants or shoes.

The Japanese verb 着ます (kimasu), which is the polite form of the dictionary verb 着る (kiru), is one of the most fundamental and essential vocabulary words for learners to master. It translates to 'to wear' or 'to put on' in English, but it carries a very specific restriction that is unique to the Japanese language: it is exclusively used for clothing that is worn on the upper half of the body, or clothing that drapes over the entire body from the shoulders down. This distinction is crucial because English uses the single verb 'wear' for almost everything—hats, shirts, pants, shoes, and even glasses or perfume. In Japanese, however, the verb changes depending on how the item is placed on the body. Understanding 着ます requires a shift in how you categorize clothing. You must think about the physical action of putting the garment on. If you slide your arms through sleeves and pull it over your shoulders, or if it covers your torso, you use 着ます. Common items that take this verb include shirts (シャツ), sweaters (セーター), jackets (ジャケット), coats (コート), suits (スーツ), and traditional Japanese clothing like the kimono (着物) or yukata (浴衣). In fact, the word for kimono literally means 'thing to wear' (着 kiru + 物 mono).

Core Meaning: To wear or put on clothing that covers the upper body or the entire body from the shoulders down.

When you are describing the state of wearing something (i.e., you have it on right now), you must use the te-iru form: 着ています (kite imasu). This is a common stumbling block for beginners who might try to use the simple present tense 着ます to mean 'I am wearing'. The simple present tense 着ます actually means 'I will wear' (future action) or 'I habitually wear' (routine).

毎日、仕事にスーツを着ます。

明日のパーティーで新しいドレスを着ます。

State vs Action: 着ます = will put on / habitually put on. 着ています = am currently wearing.

The kanji for this verb is 着. It is a very versatile kanji that appears in many other words related to clothing and arrival (such as 到着 - touchaku, meaning arrival). However, when used as a verb with the okurigana (accompanying hiragana) 'る' or 'ます', it specifically refers to the action of dressing the upper body. Let's look at more examples to solidify this concept.

寒いから、コートを着ます。

彼はいつも黒いシャツを着ています。

家ではリラックスした服を着ます。

Cultural Context: In traditional Japan, the primary garment was the kimono, which covers the whole body. Thus, the verb for wearing a kimono became the default verb for 'wear' in a general sense, even though specific verbs exist for lower-body items.

To truly master this word, you must practice associating it visually with the upper body. Imagine a line drawn across your waist. Anything that goes above that line, or crosses that line from top to bottom, uses 着ます. Anything that stays strictly below that line uses a different verb entirely. This mental model will prevent the vast majority of errors learners make when discussing clothing in Japanese.

Using 着ます correctly involves understanding its conjugation patterns and its syntactic role in a sentence. As a Group 2 (Ichidan) verb, its conjugation is highly regular and straightforward, making it relatively easy for beginners to manipulate. The dictionary form is 着る (kiru). To form the polite present/future tense, you simply drop the 'る' and add 'ます', resulting in 着ます.

Conjugation Group: Group 2 (Ichidan Verb). Stem: 着 (ki).

Let's break down the essential conjugations. The negative form is 着ません (kimasen) in polite speech, and 着ない (kinai) in casual speech. The past tense is 着ました (kimashita) politely, and 着た (kita) casually. The past negative is 着ませんでした (kimasen deshita) politely, and 着なかった (kinakatta) casually.

昨日はジャケットを着ませんでした。

暑いので、セーターは着ません。

The te-form of this verb is 着て (kite). This is arguably the most important form to learn because it is used to express the state of wearing something. When you combine the te-form with います (imasu), you get 着ています (kite imasu), which means 'is wearing' or 'has on'.

The Te-Iru Form: 着て (kite) + います (imasu) = currently wearing. This describes a resultant state, not just an ongoing action.

あの赤いシャツを着ている人は誰ですか。

私は今、パジャマを着ています。

Another common usage is the potential form, which expresses the ability to wear something. For Group 2 verbs, this is formed by adding られる (rareru) to the stem, resulting in 着られる (kirareru), or politely 着られます (kiraremasu). In modern, casual Japanese, the 'ra' is often dropped, making it 着れる (kireru).

Potential Form: 着られる (kirareru) / 着られます (kiraremasu) = can wear / is wearable.

このシャツはまだ着られます。

You will also encounter the volitional form, 着よう (kiyou) or politely 着ましょう (kimashou), meaning 'let's wear' or 'I shall wear'. This is frequently used when deciding what to wear with friends or family. For example, '今日は寒いから、コートを着ましょう' (It's cold today, so let's wear coats). Mastering these conjugations will allow you to express a wide range of nuances regarding upper-body clothing in Japanese.

The verb 着ます is ubiquitous in daily Japanese life. You will encounter it in almost every context where human beings interact, as clothing is a universal necessity. One of the most common places you will hear this verb is in the home, particularly during the morning routine. Parents frequently use it when instructing their children to get dressed for school.

Daily Life: Used constantly in morning routines, preparing for outings, and discussing daily outfits.

早く制服を着なさい。

今日は何色を着ますか。

Another major context is retail and shopping. When you visit a clothing store (服屋 fukuya) or a department store (デパート depaato) in Japan, the shop staff (店員 ten'in) will use polite variations of this verb. If you want to try something on, you use the phrase 試着する (shichaku suru), which incorporates the kanji for 着. However, the staff might ask you if you would like to wear it, using honorific language.

Shopping Context: Essential for trying on clothes, asking about sizes, and discussing fit with store clerks.

こちらを着てみますか。

少し大きいですが、着られます。

Weather forecasts on Japanese television and radio also frequently use this verb. Meteorologists will advise viewers on what type of clothing is appropriate for the day's weather. You will hear phrases suggesting that viewers wear a warm coat or a light shirt depending on the temperature.

Weather Forecasts: Meteorologists often give advice on what to wear based on the daily temperature and conditions.

今日は寒いので、暖かいコートを着てください。

Finally, you will hear it in fashion magazines, blogs, and social media. Influencers and fashion writers constantly discuss what they are wearing, what is trending, and how to style different pieces. In these contexts, the verb is often combined with adverbs to describe how something is worn, such as 'おしゃれに着る' (to wear stylishly) or 'カジュアルに着こなす' (to wear casually and well). Understanding the context in which 着ます is used will greatly enhance your listening comprehension and cultural fluency.

The most prevalent and persistent mistake learners make with 着ます is overgeneralization. Because English uses 'wear' for everything from hats to shoes to perfume, English speakers naturally assume that 着ます can be applied universally. This leads to sentences that sound completely unnatural, and sometimes even comical, to a native Japanese speaker.

The Overgeneralization Trap: Using 着ます for items that do not belong on the upper body. This is the #1 error for beginners.

For example, a learner might say '靴を着ます' (Kutsu o kimasu) to mean 'I wear shoes'. To a Japanese person, this sounds as bizarre as saying 'I am going to shirt my shoes' in English. Shoes, pants, skirts, and socks all require the verb 履きます (hakimasu), which is used for items worn on the lower half of the body.

❌ ズボンを着ます。

⭕ ズボンを履きます。

Another frequent error involves headwear. Hats and caps require the verb 被ります (kaburimasu). Saying '帽子を着ます' (Boushi o kimasu) is incorrect. Similarly, glasses require かけます (kakemasu), and accessories like rings, watches, or ties require します (shimasu) or つけます (tsukemasu).

Headwear and Accessories: Never use 着ます for hats, glasses, or jewelry. Each has its own specific verb.

❌ 帽子を着ます。

⭕ 帽子を被ります。

A third common mistake is confusing the tense and aspect when describing what someone is currently wearing. As mentioned earlier, beginners often use the simple present tense (着ます) to mean 'I am wearing'. If you say '私は赤いシャツを着ます', it means 'I will wear a red shirt' (perhaps tomorrow) or 'I habitually wear red shirts'. If you want to say 'I am wearing a red shirt right now', you must use the te-iru form: '私は赤いシャツを着ています'.

Tense Confusion: Failing to use the te-iru form for current states is a hallmark of beginner Japanese.

❌ 今、コートを着ます。(Meaning: I am wearing a coat now)

By actively avoiding these three pitfalls—overgeneralizing to lower body items, overgeneralizing to accessories, and using the wrong tense for current states—you will instantly sound much more natural and proficient in Japanese.

To truly master 着ます, you must understand its place within the broader ecosystem of Japanese clothing verbs. Japanese categorizes the action of dressing based on the body part involved and the motion of putting the item on. Let's explore the most important similar words and how they contrast with 着ます.

履きます (Hakimasu): Used for items worn on the lower half of the body. You step into these items.

履きます (hakimasu) is the direct counterpart to 着ます for the lower body. If you step into it and pull it up, or slide your feet into it, you use 履きます. This includes pants (ズボン), jeans (ジーンズ), skirts (スカート), shorts (半ズボン), socks (靴下), shoes (靴), and boots (ブーツ).

新しい靴を履きます。

スカートを履いています。

被ります (Kaburimasu): Used for items placed on the head.

被ります (kaburimasu) is used exclusively for things that cover the head. The physical motion is pulling something down over the top of your head. This applies to hats (帽子), caps (キャップ), helmets (ヘルメット), and even pulling a blanket over your head.

日差しが強いので、帽子を被ります。

かけます (Kakemasu): Used for items that are hooked or hung onto a body part, primarily glasses.

かけます (kakemasu) means to hang or hook something. In the context of wearing things, it is almost exclusively used for glasses (眼鏡) and sunglasses (サングラス), because you hook them over your ears and nose.

本を読む時、眼鏡をかけます。

Finally, there is します (shimasu) or つけます (tsukemasu), which are used for accessories that are attached or fastened to the body. This includes ties (ネクタイ), belts (ベルト), watches (時計), rings (指輪), and earrings (ピアス). By learning these verbs as a set, you will be able to describe any outfit accurately in Japanese, avoiding the common pitfalls of direct translation from English.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

シャツを着ます。

I wear a shirt.

Simple present/future tense. Object marker を is used.

毎日コートを着ます。

I wear a coat every day.

Used with a time word (毎日) to show habitual action.

セーターを着ました。

I wore a sweater.

Past tense polite form (ました).

今日はジャケットを着ません。

I will not wear a jacket today.

Negative polite form (ません).

何を着ますか。

What will you wear?

Question form using the particle か.

赤い服を着ます。

I will wear red clothes.

Adjective modifying the noun before the verb.

ドレスを着ました。

I wore a dress.

Dresses use 着ます because they cover the upper body.

パジャマを着ます。

I will put on pajamas.

Used for daily routine actions.

今、Tシャツを着ています。

I am wearing a T-shirt now.

Te-form + います indicates a current state of wearing.

あの黒いコートを着ている人は誰ですか。

Who is that person wearing the black coat?

Te-iru form modifying a noun (人).

寒いですから、セーターを着てください。

It's cold, so please wear a sweater.

Te-form + ください for a polite request.

新しいシャツを着て、学校へ行きます。

I will put on my new shirt and go to school.

Te-form used to connect sequential actions.

この服は小さくて、着られません。

These clothes are small and I cannot wear them.

Potential negative form (られません).

パーティーに何を着ていきますか。

What will you wear to the party?

着て + 行く (wear and go).

着物を着たことがありますか。

Have you ever worn a kimono?

Ta-form + ことがあります (experience).

家ではいつもリラックスした服を着ています。

I always wear relaxed clothes at home.

Habitual state using te-iru.

雨が降っているので、レインコートを着たほうがいいですよ。

It's raining, so you had better wear a raincoat.

Ta-form + ほうがいい (giving advice).

このジャケットは軽くて着やすいです。

This jacket is light and easy to wear.

Verb stem + やすい (easy to do).

子供に暖かい服を着させました。

I made/let my child wear warm clothes.

Causative form (させました).

スーツを着ないと、会場に入れません。

If you don't wear a suit, you cannot enter the venue.

Negative conditional (ないと).

彼女はいつもおしゃれな服を着こなしている。

She always wears stylish clothes well (pulls them off).

Compound verb 着こなす (to wear well).

急いで着替えないと、遅刻しますよ。

If you don't hurry and change clothes, you'll be late.

Compound verb 着替える (to change clothes).

制服を着たままで寝てしまった。

I fell asleep while still wearing my uniform.

Ta-form + まま (leaving as is).

どんな服を着ればいいか分かりません。

I don't know what kind of clothes I should wear.

Conditional ば + いい (asking for advice).

面接には、きちんとしたスーツを着ていくべきだ。

You should wear a proper suit to an interview.

Dictionary form + べきだ (strong recommendation).

彼は無実なのに、罪を着せられた。

Even though he was innocent, he was framed (made to wear the crime).

Metaphorical use of causative-passive (着せられる).

このドレスはシルクでできているので、着心地が素晴らしい。

This dress is made of silk, so it feels wonderful to wear.

Noun compound 着心地 (feeling of wearing).

流行の服を着ればいいというものではない。

It's not just a matter of wearing trendy clothes.

Advanced phrasing: ~ばいいというものではない.

何を着ようか迷って、結局いつもの服にした。

I hesitated about what to wear, and in the end, I went with my usual clothes.

Volitional form + か迷う (hesitate about doing).

そのシャツ、裏返しに着ているよ。

You're wearing that shirt inside out.

Adverbial phrase 裏返しに (inside out).

重ね着をすれば、冬でも暖かく過ごせます。

If you layer your clothes, you can stay warm even in winter.

Noun 重ね着 (layering clothes).

彼女の着こなしは、いつも雑誌のモデルのようだ。

The way she dresses is always like a magazine model.

Noun form 着こなし (style of dress).

工場内では、必ず指定の作業服を着用すること。

Inside the factory, you must wear the designated work clothes without fail.

Formal Sino-Japanese verb 着用する (chakuyou suru).

明治時代に入り、洋服を着る習慣が徐々に広まっていった。

Entering the Meiji era, the custom of wearing Western clothes gradually spread.

Historical context, descriptive past tense.

着飾ることに興味がなく、常に質素な身なりをしている。

Having no interest in dressing up, they always maintain a frugal appearance.

Compound verb 着飾る (to dress up/adorn oneself).

その役者は、まるで役が憑依したかのように衣装を着こなしていた。

The actor wore the costume so well it was as if the role had possessed them.

Advanced simile (まるで〜かのように).

冠婚葬祭において、何を着るかは非常に重要な社会的メッセージとなる。

In ceremonial occasions, what one wears becomes a highly important social message.

Embedded question (何を着るか) as a subject.

着古したセーターには、新品にはない愛着が湧くものだ。

One tends to feel an attachment to a worn-out sweater that a brand new one doesn't have.

Compound verb 着古す (to wear out).

彼は恩人に濡れ衣を着せるような卑劣な人間ではない。

He is not the kind of despicable person who would falsely accuse (put wet clothes on) his benefactor.

Idiom 濡れ衣を着せる (to falsely accuse).

防弾チョッキを着用していたおかげで、一命を取り留めた。

Thanks to wearing a bulletproof vest, they narrowly escaped death.

Formal usage of 着用 in a critical context.

着の身着のままで火事から逃げ出した。

They escaped from the fire with only the clothes on their back.

Idiom 着の身着のまま (with only the clothes one is wearing).

権威という名の鎧を着て、彼は自身の弱さを隠蔽していた。

Wearing the armor known as authority, he concealed his own weakness.

Highly metaphorical use of 着る.

伝統的な和服の着付けは、一朝一夕に習得できるものではない。

The traditional art of dressing in a kimono cannot be mastered in a day.

Noun 着付け (the art of putting on a kimono).

その発言は、相手に恩を着せるような響きを含んでいた。

That statement carried a tone of demanding gratitude (making someone wear a favor).

Idiom 恩を着せる (to demand gratitude for a favor).

流行遅れの服を着ることを厭わない彼の姿勢には、一種の哲学が感じられる。

One can sense a kind of philosophy in his attitude of not minding wearing out-of-fashion clothes.

Complex sentence structure with nominalization.

晴れ着に身を包んだ若者たちが、街を彩っている。

Young people clad in their finest clothes are coloring the town.

Literary expression (晴れ着 - best clothes).

彼は社長の座に就いてから、すっかり偉ぶった態度を身に着けた。

Since taking the position of president, he has completely acquired a haughty attitude.

Idiomatic use of 身に着ける (to acquire/learn/wear).

布を纏うという行為は、人類が文化を着るということに他ならない。

The act of draping cloth is nothing less than humanity wearing culture itself.

Philosophical and abstract use of the verb.

Collocations courantes

シャツを着る

コートを着る

服を着る

スーツを着る

着物を着る

ドレスを着る

パジャマを着る

上着を着る

重ね着をする

厚着をする

Phrases Courantes

何を着ていく？

着替えてきます

着るものがない

着心地がいい

裏返しに着る

着たまま寝る

おしゃれに着こなす

サイズが合わなくて着られない

恩を着せる

濡れ衣を着せる

Souvent confondu avec

着ます vs 履きます (hakimasu - lower body)

着ます vs 被ります (kaburimasu - head)

着ます vs します (shimasu - accessories)

Expressions idiomatiques

Facile à confondre

着ます vs

Structures de phrases

Comment l'utiliser

note

Honorific form is お召しになる (omeshi ni naru). Humble form is 着る (kiru) - there is no special humble form, though 拝見する is used for seeing. Wait, for wearing, humble is just 着る or 着させていただく.

Erreurs courantes

Saying 靴を着ます (I wear shoes) instead of 靴を履きます.
Saying 帽子を着ます (I wear a hat) instead of 帽子を被ります.
Saying 今シャツを着ます (I wear a shirt now) instead of 今シャツを着ています.
Confusing the kanji 着 with 差 or 羊 due to visual similarities.
Using the wrong particle, like シャツに着ます instead of シャツを着ます.

Astuces

The Te-Iru Rule

Always use 着ています (kite imasu) for current states. This is non-negotiable for sounding natural.

Body Mapping

Draw a line at your waist. Above the line = 着る. Below the line = 履く. Head = 被る.

Pitch Accent

The dictionary form 着る is Atamadaka (starts high, drops low). Don't confuse it with 切る (to cut) which is Atamadaka too, wait, 切る is Atamadaka, 着る is Heiban. Correction: 着る is Heiban (starts low, goes high).

Kimono Connection

Remember that 'Kimono' literally means 'thing to wear'. It helps you remember the root 'ki'.

Dresses and Suits

Full body outfits like dresses and suits use 着る because they originate from the shoulders.

Casual Contractions

In anime and daily life, 'kite iru' becomes 'kiteru'. Listen for this shorter form.

Kanji Practice

The kanji 着 has many strokes. Practice writing it to recognize it quickly in texts.

Compound Verbs

Learn 着替える (to change clothes) early on. It's incredibly useful for daily life.

Asking for Advice

Use '何を着ればいいですか' (What should I wear?) when unsure about a dress code.

Accessory Alert

Never use 着る for watches, ties, or jewelry. Use します or つけます.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine a KEY (ki) unlocking a zipper on your shirt so you can put it on. KI-masu is for shirts!

Origine du mot

Native Japanese word (Wago). The kanji 着 originally meant 'to arrive' or 'to stick to', which conceptually extended to clothes 'sticking' to the body.

Contexte culturel

In business, wearing a suit (スーツを着る) is almost mandatory for men.

Wearing a yukata (浴衣を着る) is common at summer festivals.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"今日は寒いから、コートを着たほうがいいですよ。"

"そのシャツ、どこで買ったの？よく似合って（着て）いるね。"

"明日のパーティー、何を着ていく予定ですか。"

"家ではどんな服を着ていますか。"

"日本の着物を着たことがありますか。"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe your favorite outfit using 着ている and 履いている.

Write about what you wore yesterday using past tense verbs.

Explain the dress code at your school or workplace.

Describe traditional clothing from your country.

Write a dialogue between a shop clerk and a customer trying on clothes.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, you cannot. Pants are worn on the lower half of the body. You must use the verb 履きます (hakimasu) for pants, shorts, skirts, and shoes. Using 着ます for pants sounds very unnatural in Japanese.

You use 着ます for a dress (ドレス or ワンピース). Even though a dress covers the lower body, it is put on over the torso and hangs from the shoulders, so it falls under the category of upper-body clothing.

You must use the te-iru form: シャツを着ています (Shatsu o kite imasu). If you say シャツを着ます, it means 'I will wear a shirt' or 'I habitually wear a shirt'.

着る (kiru) means to wear, while 切る (kiru) means to cut. They are homophones but use different kanji. In spoken Japanese, context usually makes it clear which one you mean.

No. For items worn on the head, such as hats, caps, or helmets, you must use the verb 被ります (kaburimasu).

You can ask '何を着ますか' (Nani o kimasu ka?) or '何を着ていきますか' (Nani o kite ikimasu ka? - What will you wear and go?).

Yes. When speaking respectfully about what someone else is wearing (like a boss or a customer), you use the honorific verb お召しになる (omeshi ni naru).

The direct object particle を (o) is used to mark the clothing item being worn. For example, シャツを (shatsu o) 着ます.

Usually, no. A scarf is wrapped around the neck, so the verb 巻きます (makimasu - to wrap) or します (shimasu - to do/wear accessories) is more appropriate.

You drop the 'masu' and add 'tai'. So, 着ます becomes 着たいです (kitai desu).