Support This Site ☕Getting dressed in Japanese is trickier than you think!
Many katakana words sound like English but mean something different — like マイペース, which describes someone who does things at their own speed. Test your knowledge of these tricky “false friends” (often called wasei eigo) with everyday clothing words in Japan.
- Type your answer in hiragana or katakana, or say it with 🎤
- Includes native Japanese audio and clear explanations
- Perfect for JLPT N4–N3 learners
Fill in the blank with the right katakana word. Type your answer, or tap 🎤 and say it in Japanese!
Q1
Your coworker asks what you usually wear on your days off.
休みの日は、＿＿＿にジーンズで出かけることが多いです。
On my days off, I often go out in a sweatshirt and jeans.
トレーナー（スウェット） (torēnā) = sweatshirt
In Japanese, トレーナー is a sweatshirt. In English, a trainer is a person who teaches sports or exercise. In British English, trainers are also sports shoes.
Younger people and clothing stores often say スウェット. Both are correct.
Q2
You find a cute dress at a clothing store.
すみません、この花柄の＿＿＿、試着してもいいですか。
Excuse me, may I try on this floral dress?
ワンピース (wanpīsu) = dress
In Japanese, ワンピース is a dress — one piece of clothing from top to bottom. In English, a “one-piece” usually means a swimsuit.
ドレス is also a Japanese word, but it usually means a formal dress for a party or a wedding.
Q3
It’s a cold winter morning, and your friend is about to go out.
今日は風が冷たいから、＿＿＿を巻いて出かけたほうがいいよ。
The wind is cold today, so you should wear a scarf when you go out.
マフラー (mafurā) = winter scarf
In Japanese, マフラー is a warm scarf you wear in winter. In American English, a muffler is also the part of a car that makes the engine quieter.
マフラー vs スカーフ — people usually use them like this:
- マフラー: thick and warm, often knitted or made of wool. People wear it in winter.
- スカーフ: thin and light, often made of silk. People wear it for fashion in any season.
To wear one, people say マフラーを巻く (maku, to wrap) or マフラーをする.
Q4
You have a job interview tomorrow.
明日は面接だ。＿＿＿にアイロンをかけておこう。
I have a job interview tomorrow. I’ll iron my dress shirt.
ワイシャツ（Yシャツ） (waishatsu) = dress shirt
In Japanese, ワイシャツ (also written Yシャツ) is a dress shirt — a shirt with a collar and buttons that people wear with a suit. In English, people say “dress shirt” or just “shirt.”
It looks like a “Y” version of a T-shirt, but the word actually comes from “white shirt.” To Japanese ears, “white shirt” sounded like ワイシャツ. Today, a ワイシャツ can be blue or striped, too!
In the Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto), many people also say カッターシャツ.
The word is so common that there’s even a famous 1992 song called 部屋とYシャツと私.
Q5
Your friend is going to the beach this weekend.
海で遊ぶなら、＿＿＿を持っていったほうがいいよ。普通の靴だと濡れて乾かないからね。
If you’re going to play at the beach, you should bring flip-flops. Regular shoes get wet and won’t dry.
ビーチサンダル（ビーサン） (bīchi sandaru) = flip-flops
In Japanese, ビーチサンダル means flip-flops — light sandals with a strap between your toes. Many people shorten it to ビーサン.
English speakers can understand “beach sandals,” but the usual word is “flip-flops.” In Australia, people call them “thongs,” and in New Zealand, “jandals.”
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シシャモが選びましたPicked by Shisyamo
Words in this quiz (answers inside!)
- トレーナー（スウェット） (torēnā) — sweatshirt
- ワンピース (wanpīsu) — dress
- マフラー (mafurā) — winter scarf
- ワイシャツ（Yシャツ） (waishatsu) — dress shirt
- ビーチサンダル（ビーサン） (bīchi sandaru) — flip-flops
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