着る vs 着用する
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 着る
Listen to 着用する
| 着る | 着用する |
|---|---|
KI-ru verb (ichidan) | ちゃくようする verb (ichidan) |
| to wear; to put on (clothes, typically upper-body garments) | to wear; to don (formal/written usage, often for rules or instructions) |
How they differ
着用する is the formal or technical counterpart to 着る and is commonly used in written instructions, regulations, or safety contexts (e.g., 'please wear...'); it sounds stiff in casual conversation and is less likely in everyday speech.
When to use each
When to use 着る: Prefer 着る in everyday conversation to say 'to wear' for clothes (especially upper-body garments).
When to use 着用する: Prefer 着用する in formal writing, signage, manuals, or when stating mandatory requirements (e.g., '着用してください').
Side-by-side examples
- 今日はスーツを着る必要がある。
(I need to wear a suit today.) - 工事現場ではヘルメットの着用が義務付けられている。
(On construction sites, wearing helmets is mandatory.)
Register & nuance: 着用する is more formal/written and used in official or instructional contexts, whereas 着る is the neutral colloquial verb.