衣: the kanji for clothing
衣 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means clothing. Below are its readings, 7 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
衣 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
衣 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 6 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
イ (i)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 衣服いふく · ifuku | clothes |
| 衣類いるい · irui | clothing |
| 衣食住いしょくじゅう · ishokujū | food, clothing and shelter |
| 衣装いしょう · ishō | costume |
ころも (koromo)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 衣ころも · koromo | robe; batter (for frying) |
| 衣替えころもがえ · koromogae | seasonal change of clothing |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 衣, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 浴衣ゆかた · yukata | light cotton kimono |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 衣類は燃えるごみの日に出してください。Irui wa moeru gomi no hi ni dashite kudasai.Please put out clothing on burnable garbage day.
- 六月に衣替えをする。Rokugatsu ni koromogae o suru.We change to summer clothes in June.
- 衣食住に困らない生活をしたい。Ishokujū ni komaranai seikatsu o shitai.I want a life where food, clothing and shelter are not a worry.
- 天ぷらの衣をさっくり作るのは難しい。Tenpura no koromo o sakkuri tsukuru no wa muzukashii.It is hard to make light and crispy tempura batter.
- 夏祭りに浴衣を着た。Natsumatsuri ni yukata o kita.I wore a yukata to the summer festival.
Questions about 衣
How many strokes does 衣 have?
衣 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 衣?
The on readings are i (イ). The kun readings are koromo (ころも).
What JLPT level is 衣?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Home, clothing and daily life
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 衣
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.