How to say "wear" in Japanese

• 着るきるJLPT N5approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers wearing clothing from the shoulders down, such as shirts, jackets, and coats; it also means to put such clothing on, and is a common verb for these garments.
  「あの赤あかい服ふくを着きるのはよしなさい」「なぜいけないの」↗

  "You had better not wear the red dress." "Why not?"
• 下げるさげるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbEssentially means to hang or suspend something; the wear sense applies to a decoration worn hanging from the body, like a medal. It is not the verb to use for clothes.
• 履くはくJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbUsed for putting on and wearing lower-body clothing, such as pants and skirts, and for footwear. Together with 着る it divides clothing wear by body region.
  この靴くつはきつすぎてはけない。↗

  These shoes are too tight to get into.
• かぶるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbMeans to put something on one's head or pull it over the head — the verb for hats and helmets — and can also mean to wear or have on. Usually written in kana alone.
  「白しろい帽子ぼうしをかぶっている男おとこの人ひとは誰だれですか」と私は彼女かのじょに言いった。↗

  I asked her who the man wearing the white hat was.
• ウェアCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)A katakana loanword noun meaning wear, clothing, or dress; it names the garments rather than the act of wearing, so use one of the verbs above to say that someone wears something.
  スキーシーズンも終おわりに近ちかづいて、ウエアとかのバーゲンやっているけど、余り物あまりものしかなくて丁度ちょうどいいサイズのモノがない。↗

  Since ski season is almost over, the ski wear that's on sale is all leftovers, so there's nothing that's just my size.

Choose by what is worn and how: 「着る」 for clothing from the shoulders down, 「履く」 for lower-body clothing and footwear, 「かぶる」 for the head, 「下げる」 for hanging decorations, and 「ウェア」 as a noun for clothing itself.

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

• 着るきるto wear (from the shoulders down)
• 下げるさげるto hang
• 履くはくto put on (lower-body clothing, e.g. pants, skirt, footwear)
• かぶるto put on (one's head)
• ウェアwear
• 帯びるおびるto wear (a sword, decoration, etc.)
• 摩耗まもうwear
• 着込むきこむto wear (multiple layers of clothes)
• 衰えるおとろえるto become weak
• つるto hang
• 巻くまくto wind
• まとうto put on
• 損耗そんもうwear
• 身を包むみをつつむto wear
• 身にまとうみにまとうto wear
• 着付けるきつけるto put on
• よれwrinkle (in paper)
• つけるto wear
• いただくto be crowned with
• かけるto put on (glasses, etc.)
• 締めるしめるto wear (necktie, belt)
• 持ちもちwear
• 痛みいたみdamage
• 召すめすto put on
• 蓄えるたくわえるto grow (a beard, moustache, etc.)
• 身につけるみにつけるto carry
• 鎧うよろうto wear
• たたえるto express (an emotion)
• 召されるめされるto put on
• するto wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
• 引っ張るひっぱるto wear
• ぶち込むぶちこむto wear (a sword, etc.)
• ぶっこむto wear (a sword)
• 着するちゃくするto put on