Hey there fellow netizens!

So, as promised, today we will learn how to wear stuff in Japanese. Get your girly spirits up for this lesson cause we're playing dress-up!

But first things first! I mean, we all start off like Adam and Eve, right?

Naked, in Japanese, is 裸（はだか）.
It also means almost naked, or barely dressed, like when you're only wearing panties/boxers or a very see-through... something.
A very nagging parent (which unfortunately you'll find all over the world) would say the following to their rebellious teenage girl that wants to go out with her friends:

そんな格好して出かけるの？ほとんど裸じゃない！
そんな　かっこう　して　でかける　の？　ほとんど　はだか　じゃない！
Are you going out looking like this? You're basically naked!
Literally: 'that kind (of) + appearance + make + go out + の? + Mostly + naked + right?'

Note: 格好（かっこう） has the general meaning of 'appearance', and it can be used to refer to the way that someone dresses, but also to the general 'vibe' a person gives off, hence the expression:

格好いい
かっこいい
Cool
Literally: 'Appearace + good'
Note: By itself, technically 格好 is かっこう, but when it combines with いい, we drop the う, giving us: かっこいい.

But for naked baby butts and children in general (also for adults in a playful context) there is another word: すっぽんぽん, stark naked.

But let's put some clothes on, shall we?

1. 着る/きる/To wear, to put on
Refers to tops and full-body stuff: Jackets, shirts, dresses, suits, etc...

ドレスを着る。
どれす　を　きる。
To wear a dress.
Literally: 'Dress + を + wear'

スーツを着る。
すーつ　を　きる。
To wear a suit.
Literally: 'Suit + を + wear'

上着を着る。
うわぎ　を　きる。
To wear a coat.
Literally: 'Coat/jacket + を + wear'
Note: 上着 can refer to any type of outerwear.

2. 履く/はく/to wear, to put on.
Refers to anything that goes under the belt: pants, shoes, socks.

ズボンを履く。
ずぼん　を　はく。
To put on/wear pants.
Literally: 'Pants + を + put on/wear'

靴を履く。
くつ　を　はく。
To put on/wear shoes.
Literally: 'Shoes + を + put on/wear'

靴下を履く。
くつした　を　はく。
To put on/wear socks.
Literally: 'Socks + を + put on/wear'

Notice that the word for 'sock' in Japanese is comprised of '靴/くつ/shoe' and '下/した/under' so now it's easier to remember, because it's the 'thing under the shoe'.

3. 掛ける/かける/To put on, wear (glasses)
Refers only to, well, glasses.

眼鏡を掛ける。
めがね　を　かける。
To put on/wear glasses.
Literally: 'Glasses + を + put on/wear'

4. 被る/かぶる/To put on, to wear
This refers only to things you put on your head: mainly hats... (but sometimes cats as well)

帽子を被る。
ぼうし　を　かぶる。
To wear/put on a hat.
Literally: 'Hat + を + put on/wear'

...And that thing about cats: in Japan they have this funny expression:

猫を被る。
ねこ　を　かぶる。
To feign friendliness.
Literally: 'Cat + を + wear/put on'.

For more cat expressions, check out this lesson by Cassy.

This lesson was written by Adriana, a guest contributor.