衣装

• Reading: いしょう
• Romaji: ishou
• Kanji breakdown: 衣 (i/koromo) — garment, clothing; 装 (shou/sou) — attire,装う to dress up
• Pronunciation: /i.ɕoː/

Meaning

Clothing; costume; outfit; garment. Attire worn for a specific occasion or performance.

A noun that typically refers to special-purpose clothing rather than everyday wear. Often used for stage costumes (舞台衣装), wedding attire (花嫁衣装), and formal ceremonial dress. Distinguished from 服 (fuku, general clothes) and 洋服 (youfuku, Western clothes) by its connotation of something deliberately chosen for an occasion or role. Also written as 衣裳.

Examples

1. 文化祭で使う衣装を準備している。 We're getting the costumes ready for the cultural festival.
2. 花嫁衣装を選ぶのにとても時間がかかった。 It took a really long time to choose the bridal outfit.
3. 舞台の衣装がとても華やかだった。 The costumes on stage were absolutely gorgeous.

Usage Guide

Context: performance, weddings, events

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 衣 (i, garment/clothing) + 装 (shou, attire/装う to dress up). Literally 'garment and adornment' — clothing that serves a presentational purpose.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal