How to say "decorate" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 飾るかざるgodan verb, transitive verbCovers the basic sense of 'decorate': to ornament or adorn something by adding decorations to it, as when decorating a room or a tree — the word you want for decorating things and places.
- 装うよそおうgodan verb, transitive verbIts core senses are to dress or attire oneself; 'decorate' here means adorning oneself rather than decorating a place or object. For decorating rooms or things, 飾る is the word you want, not this one.
Choose 「飾る」 for the plain act of decorating or ornamenting things such as rooms or trees; choose 「装う」 when you mean dressing or attiring oneself, since its 'decorate' sense is really about adorning one's appearance.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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