コスプレ
Meaning: Abbreviated form of コスチュームプレイ (kosuchūmu purei, 'costume play'). Dressing up as characters from anime, manga, games, or other media.
コスプレ is a major part of Japanese otaku culture and has become a global phenomenon. It involves creating or wearing costumes to portray specific characters, often at events like Comiket, anime conventions, or Halloween. The practice ranges from casual fun costumes to extremely detailed, professional-level recreations. コスプレイヤー (cosplayer, often shortened to レイヤー) refers to people who do cosplay. Japan's cosplay culture has been hugely influential worldwide.
Examples
- ハロウィンにコスプレして渋谷行ったことある? 万圣节的时候你有没有Cosplay去涩谷过?¿Has ido alguna vez disfrazado a Shibuya en Halloween?할로윈에 코스프레하고 시부야 가본 적 있어?
- コスプレのクオリティ高すぎて本物かと思った。 Cosplay的质量太高了,还以为是真人。La calidad del cosplay era tan alta que parecía el personaje real.코스프레 퀄리티가 너무 높아서 진짜인 줄 알았어.
- 友達がコスプレにハマって衣装自分で作ってる。 朋友迷上了Cosplay,自己做衣服。Mi amigo se ha enganchado al cosplay y se hace los trajes él mismo.친구가 코스프레에 빠져서 의상을 직접 만들고 있어.
Pronunciation
/ko.su.pu.ɾe/
Usage Guide
Context: conversation, events, social media, otaku culture
Tone: enthusiastic, cultural
✓ Do Say
- コスプレやったことある? (Have you ever done cosplay?)你有Cosplay过吗?(你有没有玩过Cosplay?)¿Has hecho cosplay alguna vez?코스프레 해본 적 있어? (코스프레 해본 적 있어?)
- コスプレ似合いすぎでしょw (That cosplay suits you way too well lol)这个Cosplay也太像了吧w(这Cosplay太适合你了吧哈哈)Ese cosplay te queda demasiado bien jaja코스프레 너무 잘 어울리는데ㅋㅋ (그 코스프레 너무 잘 어울린다ㅋㅋ)
✗ Don't Say
- コスプレを馬鹿にする発言 (Don't mock cosplay — it's a respected hobby and art form in Japan)嘲笑Cosplay的言论(不要嘲笑Cosplay——在日本它是受人尊重的爱好和艺术形式)No te burles del cosplay: es un hobby respetado y una forma de arte en Japón코스프레를 비하하는 발언 (코스프레를 비하하면 안 된다 — 일본에서는 존중받는 취미이자 예술이다)
Common Mistakes
- Using コスプレ to mean any costume — it specifically refers to portraying a character, not just wearing a costume
- Not knowing コスプレイヤー (cosplayer) is often shortened to レイヤー
Origin & History
Abbreviated from コスチュームプレイ (kosuchūmu purei, 'costume play'), a Japanese-English coinage. The practice grew from 1970s-1980s fan culture at events like Comiket. The term and culture have since been exported globally as 'cosplay.'
Cultural Context
Era: 1970s-1980s fan culture, mainstream from 2000s onward
Generation: All ages (mainstream awareness)
Social background: Otaku culture origin, now universal
Regional notes: Used across Japan and internationally. Japan is considered the birthplace of modern cosplay culture.
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