A1 Collocation 中性

古い服

furui fuku

Old clothes

Phrase in 30 Seconds

{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} simply means 'old clothes,' used when talking about cleaning out closets, donating items, or describing worn-out garments.

  • Means: Garments that are aged, worn, or no longer new.
  • Used in: Spring cleaning, thrift shopping, and describing personal history.
  • Don't confuse: Never use {古い|ふるい} to describe an elderly person; use {お年寄り|おとしより}.
👕 + ⏳ = {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple phrase. {古い|ふるい} means 'old' and {服|ふく} means 'clothes'. You use it to talk about things in your room or shopping. For example, 'I have old clothes.' It is one of the first adjective-noun pairs you learn in Japanese.
At this level, you can use {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} to explain reasons. For example, 'I am buying new clothes because these are old.' You can also use the negative form {古くない|ふるくない} to describe items that are still in good condition for selling on apps like Mercari.
Intermediate learners use this phrase to discuss social issues like recycling and waste. You might talk about the 'Mottainai' spirit or how to dispose of {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} in Japan. You start to distinguish between {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} (general) and {古着|ふるぎ} (fashionable second-hand).
Upper-intermediate learners can use this phrase in more complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or causative. For instance, 'I was told by my mother to throw away my old clothes.' You also understand the nuance of when {古い|ふるい} sounds negative versus when it sounds nostalgic.
Advanced learners analyze the sociological implications of {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} in Japanese consumer culture. You might discuss the transition from the 'scrap and build' mentality to a more sustainable circular economy, using this phrase as a baseline for more academic terms like {衣類廃棄|いるいはいき} (clothing waste).
At a near-native level, you can use the phrase in literary or philosophical contexts. You might explore the 'aesthetics of aging' ({経年変化|けいねんへんか}) where {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} are seen as having 'soul' or 'character' ({味|あじ}がある), connecting the phrase to deeper Japanese concepts like Wabi-sabi.

意思

Garments that are worn or have been owned for a long time.

🌍

文化背景

The concept of 'Mottainai' encourages people to find new uses for {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}, such as turning them into 'Zoukin' (cleaning rags). Shimokitazawa in Tokyo is the mecca of {古着|ふるぎ} (second-hand clothes). Here, {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} are curated and sold as high fashion. Companies like Uniqlo have 'All-Product Recycling' initiatives where you can drop off your {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} to be sent to refugees or recycled into fuel. Boro (rag) textiles are now considered art. They were originally {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} that were patched over generations.

💡

The 'Mottainai' Rule

If you call your clothes {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}, a Japanese person might suggest you donate them rather than throw them away.

⚠️

Adjective Ending

Always keep the 'i' in {古い|ふるい} when describing {服|ふく}. Don't say 'Furu fuku'.

意思

Garments that are worn or have been owned for a long time.

💡

The 'Mottainai' Rule

If you call your clothes {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}, a Japanese person might suggest you donate them rather than throw them away.

⚠️

Adjective Ending

Always keep the 'i' in {古い|ふるい} when describing {服|ふく}. Don't say 'Furu fuku'.

💬

Vintage vs. Old

If you're complimenting someone's style, say 'Vintage' or 'Oshare' (stylish) rather than calling their clothes 'old'.

自我测试

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'old'.

この{服|ふく}は（　　　）です。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： {古い|ふるい}

In a simple sentence ending in 'desu', the i-adjective remains in its dictionary form.

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the natural sentence.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： {私|わたし}の{祖父|そふ}は{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}を{着|き}ています。

The first is wrong because {古い|ふるい} isn't for people. The third is wrong because of 'na'.

Complete the dialogue.

A: そのシャツ、{新|あたら}しいですか？ B: いいえ、（　　　）ですよ。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}

B is saying 'No, it's an old piece of clothing.'

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are at a recycling center with a bag of garments.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}を{捨|す}てに{来|き}ました。

You came to throw away/recycle old clothes.

🎉 得分： /4

视觉学习工具

Types of {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}

👕

Condition

  • • {着古|きふる}した (Worn out)
  • • {ボロ|ぼろ}い (Shabby)
  • • {色|いろ}あせた (Faded)
♻️

Purpose

  • • {寄付|きふ} (Donation)
  • • {回収|かいしゅう} (Collection)
  • • {雑巾|ぞうきん} (Rags)

常见问题

10 个问题

It is neutral. It's not rude, but it's very plain. It's like saying 'old clothes' in English.

Technically yes, but {アンティーク|あんてぃーく} or {骨董品|こっとうひん} sounds more respectful.

{新|あたら}しい{服|ふく} (New clothes).

{今日|きょう}は{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}を{着|き}ています。

{ボロ|ぼろ}い{服|ふく} (shabby clothes) is common slang among friends.

Yes! You can replace {服|ふく} with any specific clothing item.

{古い|ふるい} means aged/old. {中古|ちゅうこ} means 'pre-owned' (even if it's only one day old).

{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}の{回収|かいしゅう}ボックスはどこですか？

Not necessarily, just that they have existed for a long time.

Probably not. You'd talk about {身だしなみ|みだしなみ} (appearance) or {服装|ふくそう} (attire).

相关表达

🔗

{古着|ふるぎ}

similar

Second-hand clothes

🔗

{新|あたら}しい{服|ふく}

contrast

New clothes

🔗

{着古|きふる}す

builds on

To wear out clothes

🔗

{中古品|ちゅうこひん}

specialized form

Used goods

🔗

{部屋着|へやぎ}

similar

Room wear / Loungewear

在哪里用

🧹

Cleaning the closet

A: この{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}、どうする？ (What are you doing with these old clothes?)

B: メルカリで{売|う}るよ。 (I'm going to sell them on Mercari.)

informal
♻️

At a recycling center

Staff: こちらは{何|なに}ですか？ (What is this?)

Customer: {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}の{回収|かいしゅう}をお{願|ねが}いします。 (Please collect these old clothes.)

neutral
🛍️

Thrift shopping

Friend A: そのシャツ、かっこいい！ (That shirt is cool!)

Friend B: ありがとう。{実|じつ}は{父|ちち}の{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}なんだ。 (Thanks. Actually, it's my dad's old clothes.)

informal
📦

Packing for a move

Partner: {荷物|にもつ}が{多|おお}すぎるよ。 (There's too much luggage.)

Self: {分|わ}かった。{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}を{半分|はんぶん}にします。 (Understood. I'll cut the old clothes by half.)

neutral
🧵

Talking to a tailor

Customer: この{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}を{直|なお}せますか？ (Can you fix these old clothes?)

Tailor: はい、{生地|きじ}を{確認|かくにん}しますね。 (Yes, let me check the fabric.)

formal
📖

Describing a character in a story

Narrator: {男|おとこ}は{汚|きたな}くて{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}を{着|き}ていた。 (The man was wearing dirty, old clothes.)

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a **FOO**lish (**FU**) person **RU**ining (**RUI**) their **FUKU** (clothes) until they are old.

Visual Association

Imagine a dusty wooden chest in an attic. When you open it, a moth flies out, and you see a faded, wrinkled shirt. That is a {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}.

Rhyme

Furu-i Fuku, in the corner of the nook.

Story

Once there was a samurai who refused to buy new armor. He kept his {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} for fifty years. People laughed, but he said, 'This cloth knows my body better than I do.' Eventually, the {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} became so soft it was like a second skin.

Word Web

{服|ふく} (clothes){古い|ふるい} (old){新|あたら}しい (new){古着|ふるぎ} (second-hand){捨|す}てる (throw away){洗|あら}う (wash){着|き}る (wear){売|う}る (sell)

挑战

Go to your closet, find one item you haven't worn in a year, and say out loud: 'これは{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}です。{捨|す}てますか？' (This is an old piece of clothing. Shall I throw it away?)

In Other Languages

English high

Old clothes

Japanese {古い|ふるい} is strictly for inanimate objects.

Spanish moderate

Ropa vieja

Spanish has a double meaning as a food item.

French high

Vieux vêtements

French adjective placement can vary, but 'vieux' usually precedes the noun like in Japanese.

German high

Alte Kleider

German requires adjective endings based on gender and case.

Arabic high

ملابس قديمة (Malabis qadima)

Word order is reversed (Noun + Adjective).

Chinese high

旧衣服 (Jiù yīfú)

Chinese uses 'jiù' specifically for objects, similar to Japanese {古い|ふるい}.

Korean high

낡은 옷 (Nalgeun ot)

Korean has different words for 'old' depending on whether it's 'worn out' or 'ancient'.

Portuguese high

Roupas velhas

Word order (Noun + Adjective).

Easily Confused

古い服 对比 {古着|ふるぎ} (Furugi)

Learners use {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} when they want to talk about 'vintage fashion.'

Use {古着|ふるぎ} for shopping and {古い|ふるい}{服|ふく} for cleaning or describing condition.

古い服 对比 {古い|ふるい}{人|ひと} (Furui hito)

Translating 'old person' literally.

Never use {古い|ふるい} for people. Use {お年寄り|おとしより}.

常见问题 (10)

It is neutral. It's not rude, but it's very plain. It's like saying 'old clothes' in English.

Technically yes, but {アンティーク|あんてぃーく} or {骨董品|こっとうひん} sounds more respectful.

{新|あたら}しい{服|ふく} (New clothes).

{今日|きょう}は{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}を{着|き}ています。

{ボロ|ぼろ}い{服|ふく} (shabby clothes) is common slang among friends.

Yes! You can replace {服|ふく} with any specific clothing item.

{古い|ふるい} means aged/old. {中古|ちゅうこ} means 'pre-owned' (even if it's only one day old).

{古い|ふるい}{服|ふく}の{回収|かいしゅう}ボックスはどこですか？

Not necessarily, just that they have existed for a long time.

Probably not. You'd talk about {身だしなみ|みだしなみ} (appearance) or {服装|ふくそう} (attire).

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