Explore garments and patterns from the Edo period.
The idea
A 小袖 was a robe with small sleeve openings and a forerunner of the modern 着物. An 帯 is a sash tied around the waist; 模様 means a pattern. Surviving examples show many fabrics and designs. The sentences use modern polite Japanese.
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 小袖 | kosode robe |
| 帯 | sash |
| 着物 | kimono |
| 模様 | pattern |
Examples
- 江戸時代に、小袖が着られました。Kosode robes were worn in the Edo period.
- 小袖は、今の着物のもとになりました。The kosode became a precursor of the modern kimono.
- 帯を腰に結びました。I tied a sash around my waist.
- この小袖には、花の模様があります。This kosode has a flower pattern.
- 服の色を選びました。I chose the colour of the clothing.
- 博物館で古い着物を見ました。I saw an old kimono at a museum.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Small sleeve openings do not mean that the sleeves themselves were short. Clothing varied with status, time and occasion.
Try it yourself
Choose the Japanese term for “kosode robe”: （小袖／帯）
Show answer or example answer
小袖
小袖 means “kosode robe”; 帯 means “sash”.
Choose the Japanese term for “sash”: （帯／着物）
Show answer or example answer
帯
帯 means “sash”; 着物 means “kimono”.
Choose the Japanese term for “kimono”: （着物／小袖）
Show answer or example answer
着物
着物 means “kimono”; 小袖 means “kosode robe”.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Choose the Japanese term for “kosode robe”: （小袖／帯）
Choose the Japanese term for “sash”: （帯／着物）
Choose the Japanese term for “kimono”: （着物／小袖）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe a garment and its pattern in two Japanese sentences.