How to say "dress" in Japanese

• 服ふくJLPT N5approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Covers 'dress' in the general sense of clothing — what a person wears. It is the general word for clothes, so choose it when 'dress' simply means attire rather than one specific garment.
  彼かれは濡ぬれた服ふくを火ひにあぶってかわかした。↗

  He dried his wet clothes by the fire.
• ドレスJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe loanword for the garment itself: a one-piece dress, typically for women. When English 'dress' refers to this article of clothing rather than to clothing in general, this is the word.
  あのドレスは彼女かのじょによく似合にあう。↗

  That dress really becomes her.
• 装うよそおうCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb: to dress oneself in something or attire oneself in it. Use it when 'dress' is a verb about putting on attire; it can also mean to adorn or to decorate.
  彼女かのじょは女優じょゆう風ふうに装よそおっていた。↗

  She was dressed after the fashion of an actress.
• 身なりみなりJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounRefers to a person's dress or appearance — how someone is dressed. It suits talk about how neatly or appropriately a person is attired, rather than about the clothes as objects.
  こんな身みなりで外出がいしゅつするのは気きが引ひける。↗

  I'm ashamed to go out dressed like this.
• 装いよそおいCommon
  nounA noun for one's dress or outfit — the attire a person puts together, often for an occasion. It also covers equipment or makeup, so the surrounding context decides the reading.
  野山のやまは春はるの装よそおいだ。↗

  Hills and fields cloaked in spring colors.

Use 「ドレス」 for the garment itself, 服 for clothes in general, 「装う」 when 'dress' is a verb, and 「身なり」 or 「装い」 for a person's attire or appearance.

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

• 服ふくclothes (esp. Western clothes)
• ドレスdress
• 装うよそおうto dress (oneself in)
• 身なりみなりdress
• 装いよそおいdress
• 服装ふくそうattire
• 着せるきせるto put clothes on (someone)
• ウェアwear
• 身支度みじたくdress
• ワンピースdress
• 装束しょうぞくcostume
• 結うゆうto do up (hair)
• 衣装いしょうclothing
• 和えるあえるto dress (e.g. a salad)
• 衣紋えもんdress
• 衣きぬclothing
• ワンピdress
• いでたちdress
• 身ごしらえみごしらえdress
• なめすto tan (leather, hide, etc.)
• 風体ふうていappearance
• なりふりone's appearance
• 形姿なりすがたappearance
• 姿すがたappearance
• よそうto dress (oneself in)
• さばくto prepare (meat or fish) for cooking
• あしらうto arrange
• こしらえるto dress (oneself in)
• こさえるto dress (oneself in)