Meaning and Usage
The word "袖" (そで) primarily means "sleeve," referring to the part of a garment that covers the arm. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when talking about clothing.
Common Collocations
- 袖をまくる (そでをまくる): to roll up one's sleeves, often implying preparing to work or get serious.
- 袖が破れる (そでがやぶれる): the sleeve is torn, a common phrase when describing damaged clothing.
- 袖の下 (そでのした): literally "under the sleeve," an idiomatic expression meaning bribery or secret payment.
Usage Notes
When using 袖, it usually refers to the physical sleeve of clothes, but it can also appear in idiomatic expressions like 袖の下. This phrase is often used in formal or serious contexts discussing corruption. Be careful not to confuse 袖 with other clothing parts like 襟 (えり, collar) or 裾 (すそ, hem).
Register and Politeness
袖 is a neutral term and can be used in both casual and formal contexts depending on the sentence. The idiomatic expression 袖の下 is more formal and often appears in news or serious discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 袖 with 裾 (すそ), which means the hem or bottom edge of a garment. Remember 袖 is for the arm part, while 裾 is for the lower edge.