Chapter 22: Clothing, Wearing Actions, and Frequency

Learn verbs for wearing different types of clothing, clothing vocabulary, and how to express frequency

In this chapter, you will learn specific verbs for wearing different types of clothing and accessories. You

Key topics:

・Clothing vocabulary and items
・Specific verbs for wearing clothes
・Talking about frequency and habits
・Describing when and where you were born
・Everyday clothing and accessories
・Winter clothing and formal wear

Vocabulary

きます

kimasu

着ます

put on, wear (clothes on upper body)

Example

シャツをきます。

Shatsu o kimasu.

I put on a shirt.

はきます

hakimasu

履きます

put on, wear (pants, shoes, socks)

Example

くつをはきます。

Kutsu o hakimasu.

I put on shoes.

かぶります

kaburimasu

被ります

put on, wear (hat, cap)

Example

ぼうしをかぶります。

Bōshi o kaburimasu.

I put on a hat.

かけます

kakemasu

掛けます

put on, wear (glasses), hang

Example

めがねをかけます。

Megane o kakemasu.

I put on glasses.

うまれます

umaremasu

生まれます

be born

Example

1990年にうまれます。

1990-nen ni umaremasu.

I was born in 1990.

コート

kōto

coat, overcoat

Example

さむいときコートをきます。

Samui toki kōto o kimasu.

I wear a coat when it

スーツ

sūtsu

suit

Example

しごとにスーツをきます。

Shigoto ni sūtsu o kimasu.

I wear a suit to work.

セーター

sētā

sweater, jumper

Example

ふゆにセーターをきます。

Fuyu ni sētā o kimasu.

I wear a sweater in winter.

ぼうし

bōshi

帽子

hat, cap

Example

あついひはぼうしをかぶります。

Atsui hi wa bōshi o kaburimasu.

On hot days, I wear a hat.

めがね

megane

眼鏡

glasses, eyeglasses

Example

ほんをよむときめがねをかけます。

Hon o yomu toki megane o kakemasu.

I wear glasses when I read books.

シャツ

shatsu

shirt

Example

あたらしいシャツをかいました。

Atarashii shatsu o kaimashita.

I bought a new shirt.

くつ

kutsu

靴

shoes

Example

あたらしいくつをはきます。

Atarashii kutsu o hakimasu.

I wear new shoes.

よく

yoku

often, well, much

Example

よくえいがをみます。

Yoku eiga o mimasu.

I often watch movies.

Conversation

こちら

kochira

This way / Here / This place

Example Usage

こちらへどうぞ。

Kochira e douzo.

This way, please.

やちん

yachin

Rent

Example Usage

このあぱーとのやちんはたかいです。

Kono apaato no yachin wa takai desu.

The rent for this apartment is expensive.

うーん

uun

Hmm... / Well... (thinking sound)

Example Usage

うーん、むずかしいしつもんですね。

Uun, muzukashii shitsumon desu ne.

Hmm, that

だいにんぐきっちん

dainingu kitchin

Dining kitchen (combined dining and kitchen area)

Example Usage

このへやにはだいにんぐきっちんがあります。

Kono heya ni wa dainingu kitchin ga arimasu.

This room has a dining kitchen.

わしつ

washitsu

Japanese-style room

Example Usage

わたしのいえにはわしつがあります。

Watashi no ie ni wa washitsu ga arimasu.

My house has a Japanese-style room.

おしいれ

oshiire

Closet / Built-in cupboard (Japanese style)

Example Usage

ふとんはおしいれにあります。

Futon wa oshiire ni arimasu.

The futon is in the closet.

ふとん

futon

Japanese bedding (mattress and quilt)

Example Usage

よるはふとんをしきます。

Yoru wa futon wo shikimasu.

I spread out the futon at night.

あぱーと

apaato

Apartment

Example Usage

えきのちかくにあぱーとをかりました。

Eki no chikaku ni apaato wo karimashita.

I rented an apartment near the station.

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Specific verbs for wearing clothes

Structure: [Clothing item] を + [Specific wearing verb]

Japanese uses different verbs for putting on or wearing different types of clothing, depending on where the item goes on the body. きます is for things worn on the upper body or the whole body (shirts, jackets, dresses). はきます is for things worn on the lower body or feet (pants, skirts, shoes, socks). かぶります is for things worn on the head (hats, helmets). かけます is for accessories worn on the face (glasses, masks).

How to use: Choose the correct verb for your clothing item, then put the clothing + を, then the verb. Example: シャツをきます (put on a shirt). ズボンをはきます (put on pants). ぼうしをかぶります (put on a hat). めがねをかけます (put on glasses). For wearing (state, not action), use 〜ています: シャツをきています (I am wearing a shirt). For past action: きました, はきました, かぶりました, かけました.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use きます for shoes or pants (❌ くつをきます). Do not use はきます for shirts. For accessories like watches, belts, or necklaces, use します (to do) or つけます (to attach). Example: とけいをします / とけいをつけます (wear a watch). For earrings, use つけます. For ties, use しめます. For rings, use はめます. For

Examples

シャツをきます。

Shatsu o kimasu.

→ I put on a shirt.

ぼうしをかぶります。

Bōshi o kaburimasu.

→ I put on a hat.

Rule 2: Using よく for frequency

Structure: よく + [Verb] (often) / よく + [Verb] (skillfully)

よく has two common meanings. (1) When placed before a verb, it often means

How to use: For frequency: place よく before the verb. Example: よくスーツをきます (I often wear suits). For skill: also place よく before the verb. Example: よくおよげます (I can swim well). For negative frequency: あまり〜ません (not often). For

💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse よく (often/well) with いい (good, adjective). よく is the adverb form. For

Examples

よくスーツをきます。

Yoku sūtsu o kimasu.

→ I often wear suits.

よくにほんごがわかります。

Yoku nihongo ga wakarimasu.

→ I understand Japanese well.

Rule 3: Talking about birth with うまれます

Structure: [Place/Time] にうまれます

Use うまれます (to be born) with the particle に to mark the place or time of birth. うまれます is a verb that follows standard conjugation patterns. This pattern is used to state where or when someone came into the world. For talking about birth in a hospital or city, use に. For

How to use: For place of birth: place noun + に + うまれました. Example: とうきょうにうまれました (I was born in Tokyo). For time of birth: time expression + に + うまれました. Example: にせんねんにうまれました (I was born in the year 2000). For both place and time: time + に + place + で + うまれました (using で for action location). Example: にせんねんにとうきょうでうまれました (I was born in Tokyo in 2000).

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use から or を with うまれます — use に for both time and place. The polite past tense うまれました is most common because birth is usually a past event. To ask

Examples

とうきょうにうまれました。

Tōkyō ni umaremashita.

→ I was born in Tokyo.

にせんねんにうまれました。

Nisen-nen ni umaremashita.

→ I was born in the year 2000.

Rule 4: Clothing particle usage

Structure: [Clothing item] を + [Wearing verb]

When talking about putting on clothes, the clothing item is the direct object and takes the particle を. This is true for all wearing verbs (きます, はきます, かぶります, かけます). The particle を marks what is being put on. For talking about wearing clothes (state, not action), use 〜ています with the same particle: シャツをきています (I am wearing a shirt).

How to use: For the action of putting on: clothing + を + wearing verb. Example: くつをはきます (I put on shoes). For the state of wearing: clothing + を + wearing verb + ています. Example: くつをはいています (I am wearing shoes). For taking off: clothing + を + ぬぎます (remove). Example: くつをぬぎます (I take off shoes). For trying on: 〜てみます. Example: くつをはいてみます (I try on shoes).

💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse を (object marker) with で (location/means) or に (destination). When you say シャツをきます, the shirt is the object being acted upon. When you say しろいシャツをきています, you are wearing a white shirt — still を. For

Examples

くつをはきます。

Kutsu o hakimasu.

→ I put on shoes.

あかいシャツをきています。

Akai shatsu o kite imasu.

→ I am wearing a red shirt.

Chapter 22: Clothing, Wearing Actions, and Frequency

Learn verbs for wearing different types of clothing, clothing vocabulary, and how to express frequency

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Specific verbs for wearing clothes

Rule 2: Using よく for frequency

Rule 3: Talking about birth with うまれます

Rule 4: Clothing particle usage

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20