草履（ぞうり、zouri）
- zori sandals

The word 草履, pronounced ぞうり (zōri), refers to a type of traditional Japanese footwear. These are sandals, typically made with a sole of woven straw, leather, wood, or other materials and a strap that passes between the toes and around the ankle. They are generally worn with 着物 (kimono) or other traditional Japanese clothing, but can sometimes be worn casually. The design and materials of 草履 vary greatly depending on the occasion, the wearer's status, and the season. They are similar in function to flip-flops or sandals.

⚫︎ 新しい草履を買いました。 Translation: I bought new 草履. ⚫︎ 着物を着て草履を履きました。 Translation: I wore a kimono and put on 草履. ⚫︎ 草履は雨の日は滑りやすい。 Translation: 草履 are slippery on rainy days.

You use 草履 when talking about the traditional Japanese sandals. You can use it when describing clothing, talking about getting ready to go out, or discussing footwear in general. The context is usually related to traditional Japanese culture or formal occasions. The choice of appropriate 草履 can depend on the event, and the 着物 that is worn.

草履 is primarily written in hiragana as ぞうり. The kanji for 草履 is 草履, but it is less commonly used. There are no variations in the okurigana.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 草履, as it is a specific type of footwear. Related terms include: ⚫︎ サンダル (sandaru) - sandals (general term) ⚫︎ 下駄 (geta) - wooden clogs, another type of traditional Japanese footwear.

There aren't direct antonyms as this is a type of footwear.

お祭りに行くので、新しい草履を買いました。 ・Translation: I bought new 草履 because I'm going to the festival. ・Explanation: This sentence explains the reason for buying new 草履.

草履は、着物と合わせて履くのが一般的です。 ・Translation: It is common to wear 草履 with a kimono. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the typical way to use 草履.

The etymology of 草履 is not definitively known, however, it is believed to have originated from the shape of the sole, which resembled the shape of a 草 (kusa, grass) that was used to create the sandal. The earliest forms of 草履 appeared during the Heian period.