ファスナー

• Reading: ふぁすなー
• Romaji: fasunaa
• Pronunciation: /ɸa.sɯ.naː/

Meaning

Zip fastener; zipper; a device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric.

A katakana noun from English 'fastener.' In Japanese, ファスナー specifically refers to a zip/zipper, while the English word 'fastener' has a broader meaning. Synonymous with ジッパー and チャック (the latter being a Japanese coinage). Common collocations include ファスナーを開ける/閉める (to open/close a zip).

Examples

1. このバッグのファスナーが壊れて閉まらない。 The zipper on this bag is broken and won't close.
2. ジャケットのファスナーをしっかり上まで閉めた。 I zipped the jacket all the way up to the top.
3. ファスナーが引っかかって開けにくい。 The zipper is caught and hard to open.

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, bags, sewing, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From English 'fastener.' Adopted into Japanese to specifically denote a zip/zipper mechanism. The word entered common use in the postwar period as Western clothing became widespread in Japan.

Cultural Context

Era: Postwar

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal