着せる・被せる|きせるkiseru[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Which spelling to use
着せる着せる is the more common written form and the recommended default for beginners, so choose it first when writing this word.
被せる被せる is a less common written form of the same word. Beginners should normally choose 着せる instead.
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto put clothes on (someone); to dress; to clothe
    ケイトは人形にんぎょうに服ふくを着きせている。↗
    Kate is dressing her doll.
  2. ichidan verb, transitive verbto cover; to coat; to plate; to gild; to veneer
  3. ichidan verb, transitive verbto pin (e.g. a crime on someone); to lay (blame); to charge (with an offence); to give (a bad name); to remind someone of (their indebtedness)
Conjugation
Dictionary form着せる(きせる)
Polite (masu)着せます(きせます)
Negative (nai)着せない(きせない)
polite (masen)着せません(きせません)
classical zu / nu着せず・着せぬ(きせず・きせぬ)
Past (ta)着せた(きせた)
polite (mashita)着せました(きせました)
Past negative (nakatta)着せなかった(きせなかった)
polite (masen deshita)着せませんでした(きせませんでした)
Te form着せて(きせて)
Potential着せられる(きせられる)
Passive着せられる(きせられる)
Causative着せさせる(きせさせる)
Causative passive着せさせられる(きせさせられる)
Conditional (ba)着せれば(きせれば)
tara着せたら(きせたら)
Volitional着せよう(きせよう)
polite (mashou)着せましょう(きせましょう)
Imperative着せろ(きせろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • RelatedかけるNeutralA very common, wide-ranging verb for hanging, draping or laying something over; 「着せる」 mainly dresses a person, but also covers things or pins blame.
  • Related被すかぶすNeutralCovers or shields something from above; a rare word. 「着せる」 focuses on dressing a person or pinning a crime on them.
  • Related覆い被せるおおいかぶせるNeutralCovers and shields something by putting something over it from above; 「着せる」 means putting clothes on a person.
  • Related押っ被せるおっかぶせるCasualColloquial: puts one thing on top of another to cover it, and can also mean pinning blame; rougher than 「着せる」.
  • Antonym剥ぐはぐNeutralPeels or tears something off a surface, and can strip clothes off someone — the opposite of dressing them with 「着せる」.
  • Antonym脱がせるNeutralTakes clothes off a person — the direct opposite of 「着せる」, which puts clothes on someone.

Use 「着せる」 to dress someone, cover something, or pin a crime on someone, as in 「罪を着せる」. To cover something, 「被せる」 or 「掛ける」 also work; 「覆い被せる」 covers from above; colloquial 「押っ被せる」 is rougher. 「脱がせる」 undresses and 「剥ぐ」 peels or strips off.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 衣服いふくなどを着用ちゃくようさせる。
  2. 物ものを被かぶせる。
  3. (罪つみや責任せきにんなどを)負おわせる。
  4. 叩たたく。打うつ。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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