How to say "armor" in Japanese

• 鎧よろいCommon
  nounCovers armor in the concrete sense of protective gear worn on the body, historically including Japanese samurai armor. This is the word you want when talking about armor as equipment worn by a warrior.
  そこで、旅たびをするときは、私は鎧よろいをつけることはしません。↗

  When I travel, I don't wear armor.
• 装甲そうこうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers armor as plating or the armoring of vehicles such as tanks, and can also refer to the act of armoring. This is the natural choice for military or mechanical armor rather than body-worn gear.
• 外装がいそうCommon
  no-adjectiveGlossed as armor, but its core senses are exterior, cladding, or packaging, referring to an outer covering or finish of a thing. It is seldom the word you want for combat armor; think of it as exterior cladding first.

Use 鎧 for physical protective body armor (especially traditional Japanese armor), 装甲 for armor as plating or armoring of vehicles, and 外装 only for exterior cladding or packaging, not combat armor.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 鎧よろいarmor
• 装甲そうこうarmoring
• 外装がいそうexterior
• アーマーarmor
• 甲鉄こうてつarmor
• 武具ぶぐarms
• 機甲きこうarmour (e.g. tank)
• 具足ぐそく(suit of) armor