N3 · 40 words

Clothes, looks and style

Sleeves, fabrics and patterns, hair and make-up, and the words for how someone looks.

Talking about how someone looks takes two kinds of word: the clothes themselves and the impression they make. In everyday speech 格好(かっこう) and 見(み)た目(め) cover the second, and 外見(がいけん) does in more careful writing. A ring or a necklace is worn with つける or 身(み)につける rather than 着(き)る, and a state such as being thin is described with 〜ている: 痩(や)せている is "is thin", while 痩(や)せる on its own means "to lose weight".

The words

Verb (5)

流行るto be in fashion; to catch onVerbN3

今年(ことし)は明(あか)るい色(いろ)のコートが流行(はや)っている。Brightly coloured coats are in fashion this year.

Often written in kana, はやる; the noun is 流行(りゅうこう).

染めるto dyeVerbN3

一度(いちど)、髪(かみ)を茶色(ちゃいろ)に染(そ)めてみたい。I'd like to try dyeing my hair brown at least once.

身につけるto wear; to have on; to learn (a skill)VerbN3

祖母(そぼ)はいつも小(ちい)さな指輪(ゆびわ)を身(み)につけている。My grandmother always wears a small ring.

Also to acquire a skill: 技術(ぎじゅつ)を身(み)につける.

目立つto stand out; to be conspicuousVerbN3

赤(あか)いコートは遠(とお)くからでもよく目立(めだ)つ。A red coat stands out even from a distance.

整えるto tidy; to put in order (hair, clothes)VerbN3

写真(しゃしん)を撮(と)る前(まえ)に、鏡(かがみ)で髪(かみ)を整(ととの)えた。Before the photo was taken, I tidied my hair in the mirror.

This list belongs to Shopping, money and services — seven lists and 280 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.