Japanese Verb Collocations: Which Verb for Wear, Put On, Open and Close

English 'wear', 'put on', 'open' and 'close' each split into several Japanese verbs depending on the object. Clothing: 着る for the upper body and full-body garments, はく for the lower body, shoes and socks, かぶる for the head; taking off: 脱ぐ for clothes, trousers, shoes and hats, 外す for glasses, accessories and anything attached. Collocations take を by default; other particles (に, から…) are shown before the verb. For a state ('wearing', 'open') use the ている form (帽子をかぶっている = wearing a hat). Tap an action to hear the full noun + verb phrase.

Wearing and taking off clothes

Item · scene	put on, wear	take off
シャツ・セーターshirts, sweaters (upper/full-body clothing) · Coats and dresses also take 「着る」.
ジャケット・コートjacket, coat · 羽織る means to just throw it on, emphasizing how quick and easy it is to put on.
ズボン・スカートtrousers, skirts · For clothing worn on the lower body, use 「はく」 (the kanji form is 「穿く」, but it's usually written in kana).
靴・靴下（くつ・くつした）shoes, socks
靴紐（くつひも）shoelaces
帽子（ぼうし）hat
ボタンbutton
ファスナーzipper
リュックbackpack · For a shoulder bag, use 「かばんを肩にかける」.

Accessories, personal items

Item · scene	put on, tie	remove, undo
眼鏡（めがね）glasses
コンタクトcontact lenses
マスクface mask
マフラーscarf
ネクタイnecktie
ベルトbelt
手袋（てぶくろ）gloves
指輪（ゆびわ）ring
腕時計（うでどけい）wristwatch
ネックレスnecklace (same for earrings, brooches, etc.)
イヤホンearphones
香水（こうすい）perfume		——

Home appliances, power

Item · scene	turn on	turn off
電気（でんき）lights · In everyday speech, 電気 usually means the lights: before you head out, remember 電気を消す.
テレビTV
エアコンair conditioner
パソコンcomputer
電源（でんげん）power source
アラームalarm (clock)
音量（おんりょう）volume
スマホsmartphone · To charge your phone, just say スマホを充電する.		——

Doors, windows, home

Item · scene	Action	Opposite
ドア・窓（まど）door, window
カーテンcurtain
鍵（かぎ）lock · To lock the door, say ドアに鍵をかける; to unlock it, say 鍵を開ける.
傘（かさ）umbrella · Use 「さす」 for opening an umbrella, not 「開ける」.
布団（ふとん）futon bedding
洗濯物（せんたくもの）laundry (washed clothes)
水（みず）water (from the tap)

Kitchen, housework

Item · scene	Action	Opposite
ご飯（ごはん）cooked rice · 「炊く」is used only for cooking rice; for cooking in general, use 「ご飯を作る」.		——
お湯（おゆ）hot water · English says “boil water,” but Japanese says お湯を沸かす: the object is お湯, not 水.		——
火（ひ）stovetop flame
洗濯機（せんたくき）washing machine · 「回す」 means "to make the machine turn," i.e., to run the washing machine.		——
掃除機（そうじき）vacuum cleaner · To vacuum (the room), say 「（部屋に）掃除機をかける」.		——
アイロンiron · "To iron clothes" = 「シャツにアイロンをかける」.		——
ゴミtrash, garbage · 「出す」= taking the trash out to the collection point on pickup day.		——
皿（さら）plates, dishes		——

Personal care and grooming

Item · scene	Action	Opposite
歯（は）tooth		——
顔（かお）face		——
シャワーshower · Taking a shower = 「シャワーを浴びる」; taking a bath = 「お風呂に入る」.		——
お風呂（おふろ）bath · Heating the bath water = 「お風呂を沸かす」.
化粧（けしょう）makeup
ひげfacial hair		——
髪（かみ）hair (on the head) · Cutting your hair = 「髪を切る」, drying it = 「髪を乾かす」.
爪（つめ）fingernail		——
薬（くすり）medicine · Use 「飲む」 for pills and capsules too, not 「食べる」.		——

Getting around

Item · scene	Action	Opposite
電車（でんしゃ）train (same for bus, car, bike) · Watch the particles: use 「に」 to get on, 「を」 to get off.
シートベルトseatbelt
エンジンengine
タクシーtaxi · 拾う = to hail a taxi on the street.		——
道（みち）road · To get lost = 「道に迷う」。		——

Communication, reservations

Item · scene	Action	Opposite
電話（でんわ）phone, phone call · Answering the phone = 「電話に出る」.
メールemail · Replying to an email = 「メールに返信する」.		——
写真（しゃしん）photo		——
予約（よやく）reservation, booking

Pronunciation on this page is AI-synthesized speech (Azure TTS), not a human recording.

Verb collocations