Trying clothes on
Collocations, Stage 3chunk 2 of 23Clothes & wearing
Dressing past plain on/off, the mirror and fitting-room talk: trousers take haku, getting changed is kigaeru, then whether it suits you (niau) and whether it fits (saizu ga au).
- zubon o hakuput on / wear trousers
- fuku o kigaeruchange clothes, get changed
- fuku ga niausuit someone, look good on someone
- saizu ga aube the right size, fit
Mix-ups zubon takes haku like shoes, not kiru; niau (looks good on you) vs saizu ga au (right size), which English both calls 'fit' or 'suit', and this au also sounds like au 'meet'; changing clothes is kigaeru, not fuku o kaeru.
zubon o haku
polite zubon o hakimasuput on / wear trousers
ズボンを履く ズボンをはく ズボンを履きます
verbhaku 履くput on or wear on the feet and legstypical 17% of zubon
trap Not zubon o kiru: trousers, skirts, socks and tights take haku, like shoes (anything you step into).
Heard as zubon haiteru (is wearing trousers) or haite mite (try them on). Same verb as shoes; casual speech drops o.
kono zubon, haite mite ii?
Can I try these trousers on?
このズボン、履いてみていい？
kono zubon, haite mite mo ii desu ka?
May I try these trousers on?
このズボン、履いてみてもいいですか？
pantsu with a flat pitch is trousers (younger speakers prefer it; zubon can sound a little old to them), but PA-ntsu, falling, is underpants, so zubon is the safe word. sutokkingu = sheer stockings or pantyhose. In shops, 'try on' is shichaku: shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?
Same verb: sukaato (skirt), jiinzu (jeans), kutsushita (socks), taitsu (tights)Learn alongside: fuku o kiru, kutsu o haku, kutsu o nugu, fuku o nugu, fuku o kigaeru, masuku o suru (Stage 4), masuku o hazusu (Stage 4), megane o kakeru (Stage 4), megane o hazusu (Stage 4), boushi o kaburu (Stage 4), yubiwa o suru (Stage 4), nekutai o suru (Stage 4), kousui o tsukeru (Stage 4)Main list: -teru (Stage 1)
fuku o kigaeru
polite fuku o kigaemasuchange clothes, get changed
服を着替える ふくをきがえる 服を着替えます
verbkigaeru 着替えるchange clothes (kiru 'wear' + kaeru 'change')typical 2% of fuku
trap fuku o kaeru isn't wrong, but it's about switching to a different outfit (are, fuku kaeta? = oh, you've changed your outfit?). The everyday verb for getting changed is kigaeru, and English 'change into' becomes ni (seifuku ni kigaeru).
kigaeru already means 'change clothes', so fuku is often dropped: chotto kigaete kuru (I'll just go and get changed). What you change into takes ni: pajama ni kigaeru.
chotto fuku kigaete kuru.
I'm just going to go and get changed.
ちょっと服着替えてくる。
chotto fuku o kigaete kimasu.
I'll just go and get changed.
ちょっと服を着替えてきます。
The noun kigae is a change of clothes: kigae motteku (I'll bring a change of clothes). Some speakers say kikaeru; it's the same word.
Same verb: pajama (pyjamas, with ni), seifuku (uniform, with ni), yukata (summer kimono, with ni), shitagi (underwear)Learn alongside: fuku o kiru, kutsu o haku, kutsu o nugu, fuku o nugu, zubon o haku, masuku o suru (Stage 4), masuku o hazusu (Stage 4), megane o kakeru (Stage 4), megane o hazusu (Stage 4), boushi o kaburu (Stage 4), yubiwa o suru (Stage 4), nekutai o suru (Stage 4), kousui o tsukeru (Stage 4)Main list: -te kuru (Stage 4)
fuku ga niau
polite fuku ga niaimasusuit someone, look good on someone
服が似合う ふくがにあう 服が似合います
verbniau 似合うsuit, look good on someonetypical <1% of fuku
trap Suit and fit are different verbs: niau is about looks, saizu ga au is about size (niau ne vs saizu atteru?). What looks good takes ga, and the person takes ni (watashi ni niau kana?) or comes first as the topic (kanojo wa aka ga niau ne = red suits her).
Mostly said as a compliment: sono fuku niau ne, or yoku niatteru (it really suits you). ga is dropped, and so is the noun once it's clear. The person it looks good on takes ni: watashi ni niau kana? (would it suit me?). Politely, and from every shop assistant, it's (yoku) oniai desu ne.
sono fuku, yoku niatteru ne.
That outfit really suits you.
その服、よく似合ってるね。
sono fuku, yoku oniai desu ne.
That outfit really suits you.
その服、よくお似合いですね。
It works for any look, not just clothes: kami mijikai no mo niau ne (short hair suits you too). oniai also describes a well-matched couple (oniai no futari), and said with a sneer it means 'it's what you deserve' (omae ni wa oniai da).
Same verb: iro (colour), kamigata (hairstyle), megane (glasses), boushi (hat)Learn alongside: saizu ga auMain list: -teru (Stage 1)
saizu ga au
polite saizu ga aimasube the right size, fit
サイズが合う サイズがあう サイズが合います
verbau 合うmatch, fit togethertypical 18% of saizu
trap English 'it fits' makes the clothes the subject. Japanese usually makes the size the subject: saizu ga au, mostly heard as saizu awanai. Don't reach for niau, which is about looks (it suits you). fitto suru exists but means snug, close to the body.
Mostly heard as a check or a complaint when trying things on or ordering online: saizu atteru? (does it fit?), saizu awanai (it's not my size). Casual speech drops ga.
kore, chotto saizu awanai kamo.
I don't think this is quite my size.
これ、ちょっとサイズ合わないかも。
kore wa chotto saizu ga awanai kamo shiremasen.
This might not be quite the right size.
これはちょっとサイズが合わないかもしれません。
If you can't get it on at all, say hairanai (kono zubon hairanai). Too tight is kitsui, too loose yurui, and a perfect fit pittari. This au sounds exactly like au 'meet' (same pitch); saizu, or the thing being tried on, tells you which.
Same verb: kutsu (shoes: kono kutsu, ashi ni awanai), megane no do (glasses' prescription: do ga awanai = wrong prescription), makura (pillow: makura ga awanai = it isn't right for me)Learn alongside: fuku ga niauMain list: -nai (Stage 1), kamo (Stage 3), hairu (Stage 1)