Word Detail

The Japanese word 衣装衣装 (ishou) primarily means "costume," "clothing," or "attire." It refers to the specific clothes worn for a particular occasion, role, or performance. It can range from everyday clothes to elaborate stage costumes. The context dictates the nuances of the meaning.

⚫︎ 舞台衣装 Translation: Stage costume ⚫︎ 民族衣装 Translation: Ethnic costume/Traditional dress ⚫︎ ウェディング衣装 Translation: Wedding attire

You use 衣装衣装 when discussing what someone is wearing, especially in a specific context. This includes stage performances, cosplay, historical reenactments, formal events, and traditional ceremonies. It's suitable for describing the clothes themselves, the process of getting dressed, or the designs of such garments. You could ask, for example, 今日のパーティーの衣装は何ですか？ (Kyou no paatii no ishou wa nan desu ka? - What is the attire for today's party?).

衣装衣装 is typically written using the kanji 衣装衣装 with the reading いしょう in hiragana. There's no other standard way to write this word. The okurigana is standard.

⚫︎ 服装 (fukusou) - clothing, attire (general term) ⚫︎ 着物 (kimono) - kimono (traditional Japanese garment) ⚫︎ ドレス (doresu) - dress ⚫︎ コスチューム (kosuchuumu) - costume (borrowed from English, often used for theatrical or themed costumes)

While there isn't a direct antonym, words representing a lack of clothing or inappropriate clothing for a situation could be considered opposites. Consider: ⚫︎ 裸 (hadaka) - naked ⚫︎ 私服 (shifuku) - one's own clothes/civilian clothes (when contrasted with a uniform or 衣装衣装)

彼女は舞台《衣装衣装の準備に忙しい。》 ・Translation: She is busy preparing her stage costume. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 衣装衣装 to describe the clothing worn specifically for a performance.

お祭りの《衣装衣装はとてもカラフルだった。》 ・Translation: The costumes for the festival were very colorful. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 衣装衣装 to describe the clothes people wore at a festival.

The word 衣装衣装 is a compound word. 衣 (i) means "clothes" or "garment," and 装 (sou) means "to dress" or "to adorn." Together, they create the meaning "clothing" or "attire."