Translation guide
The English phrase "put on" covers several distinct actions in Japanese, each with its own verb. The correct choice depends on what is being put on: clothing (upper/lower body, accessories), items on a surface, or starting an appliance. Japanese also distinguishes between putting on for oneself and putting on someone else.
To dress oneself in clothes, including upper body, lower body, and full-body items.
Used for upper-body clothing (shirts, jackets, coats) and full-body items (dresses). This is the most common verb for putting on clothes.
毎朝、シャツを着ます。
I put on a shirt every morning.
寒いからコートを着た。
I put on a coat because it was cold.
Used for lower-body clothing (pants, skirts, shorts) and footwear (shoes, socks).
ジーンズを履いて出かけた。
I put on jeans and went out.
Used for putting on headwear (hats, caps, helmets).
Formal term for wearing or putting on clothing, often used in written instructions or official contexts.
防護服を着用してください。
Please put on protective clothing.
To put on items like glasses, jewelry, watches, or gloves.
Used for glasses and sunglasses.
To put clothing or accessories on another person, such as a child.
Causative form of 着る, used when dressing someone else in upper-body or full-body clothing.
To place an object onto a surface or into a container.
General verb for putting something on a surface. Often used with location particles に or の上に.
To start the operation of an electrical device, light, or machine.
General verb for turning on lights, TVs, air conditioners, etc. Note: same pronunciation as the accessory verb but different kanji (点ける) when written.
To gain body weight.
Neutral phrase meaning 'body weight increases'. Often used with 最近 (lately) or ちょっと (a little).
最近、体重が増えた。
I've put on weight recently.
To organize or present a show, play, or exhibition.
Used for staging a play, concert, or performance.
学校で劇を上演する。
We put on a play at school.
Used for holding events, exhibitions, or conferences.
To behave in an affected or pretentious manner.
To put on airs, act affectedly. Often used in negative form 気取らない for 'unpretentious'.
These three verbs are not interchangeable. 着る is for upper body and full-body clothes, 履く is for lower body and footwear, and 被る is for headwear. Using the wrong verb sounds unnatural.
ズボンを着る
put on pants (incorrect)
English 'put on' can be used for glasses, hats, jewelry, but Japanese requires specific verbs. Using 着る for a hat or glasses is a common learner mistake.
When putting on your own clothes, use transitive verbs (着る, 履く). When describing the state of wearing, use the intransitive form with ている (着ている, 履いている).
靴下を履くのを忘れた。
I forgot to put on socks.
I put on a hat to block the sun.
眼鏡をかけて本を読む。
I put on my glasses and read a book.
Used for accessories worn on the body (earrings, necklaces, watches, gloves). Also used for applying makeup or perfume.
イヤリングをつける。
I put on earrings.
手袋をつけて外に出た。
I put on gloves and went outside.
Used for rings and sometimes gloves that fit tightly.
指輪をはめる。
I put on a ring.
Used for scarves, ties, or belts that are wrapped around.
マフラーを巻く。
I put on a scarf.
子供に服を着せる。
I put clothes on my child.
Causative form of 履く, used when putting lower-body clothing or footwear on someone else.
娘に靴を履かせる。
I put shoes on my daughter.
Causative form of 被る, used when putting headwear on someone else.
赤ちゃんに帽子を被せる。
I put a hat on the baby.
本を机の上に置いた。
I put the book on the desk.
To place something on top of something else, often with care or for a purpose (e.g., on a plate, on a vehicle).
料理を皿に載せる。
I put the food on a plate.
To put something into a container or enclosed space.
コーヒーに砂糖を入れる。
I put sugar in my coffee.
電気をつけてください。
Please put on the light.
テレビをつけたまま寝てしまった。
I fell asleep with the TV on.
Literally 'put in the switch', used for flipping a switch to turn something on.
部屋のスイッチを入れた。
I put on the room switch.
Verb meaning 'to get fat'. More direct and can be negative, so use with care.
食べすぎて太った。
I put on weight from eating too much.
美術展を開催する。
They put on an art exhibition.
彼はいつも気取っている。
He's always putting on airs.
To show off or try to look better than one is.
見栄を張って高い車を買った。
He put on a show and bought an expensive car.