Skip to content
JLPT N5Verb Forms

着る・履く・かぶる— Verbs for Wearing

Japanese chooses the 'wear' verb based on where on the body the item goes, rather than using one word like English 'wear'.

Grammar path · 練習

Practice this in the path

A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 37 · VERB FORMS

Structure · 形

着る (torso/upper) ・ 履く (legs/feet) ・ かぶる (head) ・ かける (glasses) ・ する (accessories)

Examples · 例文

  • シャツを着て、靴を履いて、帽子をかぶる。

    Shatsu o kite, kutsu o haite, boushi o kaburu.

    Put on a shirt, put on shoes, and put on a hat.

    Each body zone uses a different verb: 着る (shirt) / 履く (shoes) / かぶる (hat).

  • 眼鏡をかける。

    Megane o kakeru.

    Put on glasses.

    かける = to hang/hook something onto an anchor point (over the ears).

  • 今日は新しいセーターを着ています。

    Kyou wa atarashii seetaa o kite imasu.

    I'm wearing a new sweater today.

    着る is for the torso; 着ている describes the ongoing state of wearing.

Usage notes · 注意

  • Tense trap: シャツを着る means 'I will put on a shirt', not 'I am wearing a shirt'.
  • State of wearing: For the current state (being dressed in something now) use the ている form: シャツを着ている (I am wearing a shirt).
  • Other verbs: neckties/watches/gloves take する or はめる; scarves take 巻く.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 着る・履く・かぶる is tested against.

vs着る vs 履く

着る is for items covering the torso/whole upper body (shirts, jackets); 履く is for anything you step into on the lower body (trousers, socks, shoes).

vs着る (plain) vs 着ている (ている)

Plain 着る = future action of putting on; 着ている = the resulting ongoing state of being dressed in it.

More verb forms

Study Japanese grammar on LenGaki

Everything on this page, ready to study

  • 7,788 JLPT vocabulary words, N5 through N1, with readings and audio (N5 free)
  • 2,057 kanji with on'yomi, kun'yomi and stroke-order practice
  • 445 grammar points with examples and commonly-confused comparisons
  • Full-length N5 and N4 mock exams, timed, with real listening audio (N5 sets 1 and 2 free)