衣服

• Reading: いふく
• Romaji: ifuku
• Kanji breakdown: 衣 (i) — garment, robe; 服 (fuku) — clothing, wear
• Pronunciation: /i.ɸɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

Clothes; clothing; garments. A formal term for what people wear.

A formal noun for clothing in general. More literary and formal than 服 (fuku, clothes) or 洋服 (yōfuku, Western clothes). Often appears in official or written contexts, such as regulations, academic texts, and product descriptions. Related compounds include 衣食住 (clothing, food, and shelter — the three basic necessities of life).

Examples

1. 衣服は清潔に保つことが大切だ。 It's important to keep your clothing clean.
2. この店では衣服の修理もしている。 This shop also does clothing repairs.
3. 衣服を選ぶとき、素材を確認する。 When choosing clothes, I check the fabric.

Usage Guide

Context: formal writing, academic, regulations

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 衣 (garment, robe) and 服 (clothing, wear). Both kanji relate to clothing, with 衣 being more traditional and 服 being more modern.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal