衣類

• Reading: いるい
• Romaji: irui
• Kanji breakdown: 衣 (i/koromo) — garment, clothing; 類 (rui) — kind, type, category
• Pronunciation: /i.ɾɯ.i/

Meaning

Clothes; clothing; garments. A general, slightly formal term for articles of clothing.

A noun used as a collective term for clothing items. More formal than 服 (fuku) and 洋服 (youfuku), often appearing on store signs, product labels, and in organizational contexts such as 衣類の整理 (sorting clothes) or 衣類の寄付 (clothing donations). Common in compound expressions like 衣類乾燥機 (irui kansouki, clothes dryer).

Examples

1. 季節の変わり目に衣類を入れ替える。 I swap out my clothing at the change of each season.
2. 使わなくなった衣類を寄付した。 I donated the clothes I no longer use.
3. 衣類の洗濯表示をよく確認してください。 Please check the care labels on your clothing carefully.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, organization, donations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 衣 (i, garment/clothing) + 類 (rui, kind/category). Literally 'the category of garments' — clothing as a class of items.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal