身なり

• Reading: みなり
• Romaji: minari
• Kanji breakdown: 身 (mi) — body, self, person
• Pronunciation: /mi.na.ɾi/

Meaning

Dress; attire; personal appearance. How someone looks based on their clothing and grooming.

A noun referring to a person's overall outward appearance, encompassing clothing, grooming, and general tidiness. Often used in judgments about appropriateness: 身なりがきちんとしている (neatly dressed) versus 身なりがだらしない (sloppily dressed). In Japanese culture, 身なり is closely tied to social expectations — appropriate dress signals respect for others and the situation.

Examples

1. 面接には身なりを整えて行った方がいい。 It's better to dress neatly when going to a job interview.
2. 身なりがきちんとしている人は信頼されやすい。 People who are well-dressed tend to be trusted more easily.
3. 旅行中は身なりに気を使わなくなる。 When traveling, I stop paying as much attention to how I look.

Usage Guide

Context: job interviews, social etiquette, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Japanese: 身 (mi, body/self) + なり (nari, form/appearance, from the classical verb なる). Literally 'the form of one's body' — one's outward presentation.

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal