帽子

ぼうし

hat

JLPT N5

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The word 帽子 (ぼうし) means "hat" in Japanese. It refers to any kind of headwear used for protection, fashion, or cultural reasons. It is a common noun used in everyday conversation.

Common Contexts

帽子 is often used when talking about protecting oneself from the sun, as in 夏は帽子をかぶる (wear a hat in summer). It also appears in descriptions of what someone is wearing, especially in casual or outdoor settings.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 帽子をかぶる: to wear a hat
  • 帽子を脱ぐ: to take off a hat
  • 帽子を買う: to buy a hat

These phrases are very common and useful for daily conversation.

Register and Politeness

帽子 is a neutral word and can be used in both casual and polite speech without change.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 帽子 with other head-related words like ヘルメット (helmet) or キャップ (cap). Remember 帽子 is a general term for hats, including caps, but not helmets.

Example Sentences

なつはぼうしをかぶらないとひやけします。

In summer, if you don't wear a hat, you'll get sunburned.

かれはいつもくろいぼうしをかぶっています。

He always wears a black hat.

ぼうしをぬいで、へやにはいりなさい。

Take off your hat and come into the room.