How to say "silk" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe loanword for silk, typical of fashion and clothing contexts — garment labels and shop descriptions of scarves or blouses — where it simply means silk as a fabric.
- 絹きぬnounThe native Japanese word for silk as a material; it has a traditional, literary feel and appears in talk of traditional textiles and crafts.
- 絹布けんぷnounA textile term for silk as cloth or fabric rather than the raw material; for silk in general, シルク or 絹 is the word you want, not this one.
「シルク」 is the loanword used in fashion and clothing contexts; 絹 is the native word for silk as a material; 絹布 refers specifically to silk cloth or fabric.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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