Meet 着 in 着ます, 着きます, and other useful words. Read the examples and connect each word to its meaning.

The idea

着 has 12 strokes; follow the linked KanjiVG diagram. Learn 着ます (きます) and 着きます (つきます) as whole words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
着ますきますI will wear this shirt today.
着きますつきますThe train arrives at the station at nine.
上着うわぎPlease put on a jacket because it is cold.
到着とうちゃくI check the arrival time once more.

Examples

  • このシャツを今日きょう着きます。I will wear this shirt today.
  • 電車でんしゃは九時くじに駅えきに着つきます。The train arrives at the station at nine.
  • 寒さむいですから上着うわぎを着きてください。Please put on a jacket because it is cold.
  • 彼女かのじょはきれいな着物きものを着きています。She is wearing a beautiful kimono.
  • 到着とうちゃく時刻じこくをもう一度いちど確認かくにんします。I check the arrival time once more.
  • 子供こどもにコートを着きせます。I put a coat on the child.

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

Watch out

Here, 着ます means “puts on or wears upper-body clothing”; 着きます means “arrives”. Compare 着ます (きます) and 着きます (つきます) in context: “I will wear this shirt today.” and “The train arrives at the station at nine.” The same character does not make the words interchangeable. Compare the shapes of 着 and 差 as well.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 着ます in hiragana.

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    きます

    着ます is read きます. In context: I will wear this shirt today.

  2. Write the reading of 着きます in hiragana.

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    つきます

    着きます is read つきます. In context: The train arrives at the station at nine.

  3. Write the missing kanji: ＿ます [着 / 差] (きます).

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    着

    着 completes 着ます, read きます. In context: I will wear this shirt today.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 着 from memory, then read 着ます and 着きます aloud. Check the readings and contexts.