Meet 服 in 服 (clothes) and 制服 (uniform). Learn each reading and meaning with the whole word.

The idea

服 has 8 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. Read 服 as ふく and 制服 as せいふく. N4 is an estimated learning level, not an official JLPT kanji list.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
服ふくclothes
制服せいふくuniform
洋服ようふくWestern-style clothes

Examples

  • 妹いもうとは青あおい服ふくを選えらびます。My younger sister chooses blue clothes.
  • 生徒せいとは制服せいふくを着きています。The student is wearing a uniform.
  • 新あたらしい洋服ようふくを買かいました。I bought new clothes.
  • 服ふくを水みずで洗あらいます。I wash clothes with water.
  • この服ふくは大おおきいです。This garment is large.
  • どの服ふくが好すきですか。Which outfit do you like?

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Compare the shapes of 服 and 腹. Read whole words: 服 means clothes, whereas 制服 means uniform. 洋服 refers to Western-style clothing; 制服 is clothing prescribed for a school or workplace.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 服 in hiragana.

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    ふく

    服 is read ふく and means clothes. In the example: My younger sister chooses blue clothes.

  2. Write the reading of 制服 in hiragana.

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    せいふく

    制服 is read せいふく and means uniform. In the example: The student is wearing a uniform.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 制＿（せいふく）［服／腹］.

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    服

    服 completes 制服, read せいふく; the word means uniform.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 服 from memory, then read 服 and 制服 aloud. Check their readings and meanings.