N2 · 40 words

Grooming, skin care and clothes

Looking after skin and hair, and the finer points of how clothes are made and worn.

Two words here carry a whole attitude. 身(み)だしなみ is being properly groomed, which at work is treated as part of the job rather than a matter of taste, and 清潔感(せいけつかん), the impression of being clean and neat, is often valued above being fashionable. Notice too how much of the vocabulary is about skin: 保湿(ほしつ), 化粧水(けしょうすい) and 日焼(ひや)け止(ど)め belong to the daily routine of many men as well as women. The clothing words are those of a tailor or a shop assistant: 丈(たけ), 裾(すそ), 裏地(うらじ), 着心地(きごこち).

The words

Verb (5)

着こなすto wear (clothes) wellVerbN2

彼(かれ)は、派手(はで)な色(いろ)のスーツも上手(じょうず)に着(き)こなしている。He carries off even a brightly coloured suit.

着飾るto dress upVerbN2

着飾(きかざ)った人々(ひとびと)が、パーティーの会場(かいじょう)に集(あつ)まってきた。People in their finery gathered at the party venue.

仕立てるto make (clothes); to tailorVerbN2

父(ちち)は、結婚式(けっこんしき)で着(き)るスーツを店(みせ)で仕立(した)ててもらった。My father had a suit made at a tailor’s for the wedding.

老けるto age; to look olderVerbN2

苦労(くろう)が続(つづ)いたせいか、兄(あに)は急(きゅう)に老(ふ)けた。Perhaps because of all his troubles, my brother has suddenly aged.

Of looks; 年(とし)を取(と)る is simply getting older.

色褪せるto fade (of colour)VerbN2

何度(なんど)も洗(あら)ったので、ジーンズがすっかり色褪(いろあ)せてしまった。I have washed these jeans so often that they have completely faded.

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.