着る vs 羽織る
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 着る
Listen to 羽織る
| 着る | 羽織る |
|---|---|
KI-ru verb (ichidan) | はおる verb (ichidan) |
| to wear; to put on (clothes, typically upper-body garments) | to put on an outer garment; to throw on (a jacket, coat, haori, cardigan) |
How they differ
羽織る specifically indicates putting on an outer layer over existing clothes (or ‘throwing on’ a jacket); 着る is a general verb for wearing clothes (especially upper-body garments) and does not carry the sense of layering or an overgarment.
When to use each
When to use 着る: Prefer 着る for simply wearing clothes like shirts, dresses, or when you don't want to emphasize layering.
When to use 羽織る: Prefer 羽織る when referring to putting on or throwing on an outer garment (coat, jacket, haori) over other clothing.
Side-by-side examples
- 寒いから厚いセーターを着る。
(Because it's cold, I'll wear a thick sweater.) - 外は寒いのでコートを羽織った。
(It was cold outside, so I put on (threw on) my coat.)
Register & nuance: 羽織る is neutral and commonly used in everyday speech but is specific to outer garments (not formal like 着用する).