着る・著る|きるkiru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
着る着る is the most common form and the one learners should use for this verb, including its meanings related to clothing, blame, responsibility, and bearing.
著る著る is a rarely used kanji-and-kana spelling of the same verb; learners will seldom need to choose it.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto wear (from the shoulders down); to put on
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto take (the blame, responsibility); to bearas 汚名を〜, 罪を〜, etc.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 着る（きる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 着ます（きます） |
| Negative (nai) | 着ない（きない） |
| polite (masen) | 着ません（きません） |
| classical zu / nu | 着ず・着ぬ（きず・きぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 着た（きた） |
| polite (mashita) | 着ました（きました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 着なかった（きなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 着ませんでした（きませんでした） |
| Te form | 着て（きて） |
| Potential | 着られる（きられる） |
| Passive | 着られる（きられる） |
| Causative | 着させる（きさせる） |
| Causative passive | 着させられる（きさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 着れば（きれば） |
| tara | 着たら（きたら） |
| Volitional | 着よう（きよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 着ましょう（きましょう） |
| Imperative | 着ろ（きろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym着用ちゃくようFormalFormal Sino-Japanese term for wearing uniforms, seat belts and the like; often used in rules, e.g. 「ヘルメット着用」.
- Synonym召すめすFormalHonorific for 「着る」, 「食べる」 and more, as in 「お召しになる」; use it for someone you need to show respect to.
- SynonymまとうWrittenWritten word for draping or wrapping something around the body, as in 「衣を纏う」; literary in flavor, and it can also mean to wind around.
- Synonym着付けるきつけるNeutralTo dress properly, especially to skillfully put on or help someone into a kimono, as in 「着物を着付ける」; also to get used to wearing something.
- Synonym羽織るはおるNeutralTo casually throw on or drape a coat over what you are wearing, as in 「カーディガンを羽織る」; 「着る」 is the general word for wearing clothes.
- Related履くはくNeutralFor lower-body items — pants, skirts, shoes; 「着る」 covers upper-body or full-body clothes.
- Related帯びるおびるWrittenWritten word for wearing or carrying a sword or decoration, or for having a certain quality; not used for putting on clothes.
- Antonym脱ぐぬぐNeutralThe opposite of 「着る」: to take off clothes, shoes and the like.
Use 「着る」 for upper-body or full-body clothes and 「履く」 for lower-body items and shoes; 「羽織る」 is throwing on a coat, 「着用」 required wear, 「お召しになる」 respectful. 「着付ける」 dresses someone; 「纏う」 and 「帯びる」 are literary; 「脱ぐ」 the opposite.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
