衣類

いるい

clothes, clothing, garments

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"衣類" (いるい) refers broadly to clothes or garments. It is a formal or neutral term often used in contexts like shopping, organizing, or discussing types of clothing.

Common Contexts

You will see "衣類" used in stores, laundry instructions, or when talking about sorting clothes by season or type. It is less casual than words like "服" (ふく) but very common in written and formal spoken Japanese.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 衣類を販売する: to sell clothing, used in commercial contexts.
  • 衣類を整理する: to organize clothes, often by season or type.
  • 衣類の洗濯表示: laundry instructions on clothes, important for care.

Usage Tips

"衣類" is a collective noun and usually refers to clothes in general rather than a single item. Avoid confusing it with "服" which can be more casual or specific. When talking about your own clothes casually, "服" is more common, but "衣類" is preferred in formal or written contexts.

Example Sentences

このみせではさまざまないるいがはんばいされています。

Various types of clothing are sold at this store.

きせつにあわせているいをせいりしましょう。

Let's organize clothes according to the season.

いるいのせんたくひょうじをよくかくにんしてください。

Please check the laundry instructions on the clothing carefully.