Ever tried to say “I’m putting on a shirt” or “I’m wearing shoes” in Japanese and got stuck? English uses “wear” for everything from hats to shoes, but to say “to wear” in Japanese, you use different verbs depending on what you’re wearing and where it goes on your body.
In this beginner-friendly lesson, you’ll learn the three must-know Japanese “wear” verbs: 着る (kiru) for upper-body clothing, 履く (haku) for items you wear on your legs and feet, and かぶる (kaburu) for hats and other headwear. We’ll also cover how to say “take off” in Japanese for each one, so you can build your vocabulary for talking about getting dressed.
👕 1. The Core “Wear” Verbs: Kiru, Haku, and Kaburu
This is where most students get tripped up. Check out the table below to see which verb goes with which body part. Think of it like a body-part cheat sheet!
Key Japanese “Wear” Verbs
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
| 着る | Kiru | To Wear | Use for anything that covers the upper body or torso (shirts, jackets, dresses, coats). |
| 履く | Haku | To Put on/Wear | Use for items worn on the lower body (pants, skirts) or the feet (shoes, socks). |
| かぶる | Kaburu | To Put on/Wear | Use for items worn on the head (hats, caps, helmets). |
| かける | Kakeru | To Put on/Wear | Use specifically for things that “hang” on the face/ears (glasses, mask). |
Watch the video to see the examples on how those verbs are used with actual clothes.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvWeNT4pl8X/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
ジャケットを着る
Jakketto wo kiru
くつをはく
Kutsu wo haku
ぼうしをかぶる
Booshi wo kaburu
サングラスをかける
San-gurasu wo kakeru
サングラスをはずす
San-gurasu wo hazusu
ぼうしを脱ぐ
Booshi wo nugu
くつを脱ぐ
Kutsu wo nugu
ジャケットを脱ぐ
Jakketto wo nugu
👟 2. Sample Sentences for Daily Use
Here are some essential phrases for your daily life.
きる (Kiru) – Upper Body
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| Tシャツを着る。 | Tīshatsu wo kiru. | I put on a T-shirt. |
| 寒いから、コートを着てください。 | Samui kara, kōto wo kite kudasai. | Please wear a coat because it’s cold. (Polite) |
はく (Haku) – Lower Body / Feet
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| 新しいジーンズを履きたい。 | Atarashii jīnzū wo hakitai. | I want to put on new jeans. |
| 玄関で靴を履きます。 | Genkan de kutsu wo hakimasu. | I put on shoes at the entrance. (Polite) |
かぶる (Kaburu) – Head
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| キャップをかぶって出かける。 | Kyappu wo kabutte dekakeru. | I put on a cap and go out. |
| ヘルメットをかぶるのは大事だよ。 | Herumetto wo kaburu no wa daiji da yo. | It’s important to wear a helmet. (Casual) |
かける (Kakeru) – Glasses/Face
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
| 私はいつもメガネをかけています。 | Watashi wa itsumo megane wo kakete imasu. | I always wear glasses. (Polite) |
🔄 3. What About “Taking Off” Clothes?
You can’t just put clothes on, you gotta take them off too! Good news: for most items, there’s just one verb: 脱ぐ (nugu). But watch out—glasses use a different verb!
Key Japanese “Take Off” Verbs
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
| 脱ぐ | Nugu | To take off | Use for almost everything (shirts, pants, shoes, hats). |
| 外す | Hazusu | To take off / remove | Use for things that are “removed” from the face/head (glasses, mask, maybe earrings). |
You can see examples of this in the video asset! For example:
- ジャケットを脱ぐ (Jakketto wo nugu) – To take off a jacket
- 靴を脱ぐ (Kutsu wo nugu) – To take off shoes
- サングラスを外す (San-gurasu wo hazusu) – To take off sunglasses
💡 Extra Vocabulary Boost: Accessories & More
Now that you know the big three, here are a few more verbs for accessories. Adding these to your Japanese toolkit will make you sound super natural!
| Japanese | Romaji | English | Notes |
| する | suru | To wear | Use for small accessories like neckties, earrings, rings, or watches. Super flexible! |
| 巻く | maku | To wrap/wear | For things wrapped around the neck or waist (scarves, belts). |
| はめる | hameru | To put on/wear | For rings or gloves (things you “fit” your hand into). |
| つける | tsukeru | To attach/wear | For earrings, brooches, or makeup. |
| 着替える | kigaeru | To change clothes | When you change your whole outfit. |
Time to Test! (Interactive Quiz)
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Conclusion & Next Steps
Remember the golden rule: Kiru (upper body), Haku (lower body/feet), and Kaburu (head). Keep practicing the examples from the video and you’ll stop making this super common mistake.
Want to learn more essential Japanese for daily life? Our 150-Hour N5 Course covers all the basic verbs, sentence structures, and vocabulary you need to have simple conversations about things like clothes, food, and daily routines. Enroll today and start building a strong foundation for your Japanese journey!
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