装飾する

• Reading: そうしょくする
• Romaji: soushoku suru
• Kanji breakdown: 装 (sou/shou) — to dress, adorn; 飾 (shoku/kazari) — to decorate, ornament
• Pronunciation: /soː.ɕo.kɯ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To decorate; to ornament; to embellish with visual elements.

Used for both physical decoration of spaces and objects, and figurative embellishment of language or appearance. More formal than 飾る (to decorate, casual). The noun form 装飾 appears in compounds like 装飾品 (ornamental item) and 室内装飾 (interior decoration). Common in art, architecture, and design contexts.

Examples

1. クリスマスに合わせて店内を華やかに装飾した。 We decorated the store in a festive style for Christmas.
2. 装飾品を一切つけないシンプルなスタイルが好きだ。 I prefer a simple style with no ornaments at all.
3. 古代の神殿は美しい彫刻で装飾されている。 The ancient temple is decorated with beautiful sculptures.

Usage Guide

Context: art, architecture, interior design, fashion

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 装 (sou, to dress/adorn) + 飾 (shoku, to decorate). Both characters relate to making something more visually appealing, with 装 focusing on attire and 飾 on ornamentation.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal