着る vs 履く
JLPT N5 vocabulary · what is the difference?
Japanese picks the verb for "wear" by where on the body the item goes. 着る is for things that go on your torso or whole body — shirts, coats, dresses, kimono. 履く is for anything you pull on over your feet or legs — shoes, socks, trousers, skirts.
When to use each
着る
きる
Use 着る for garments covering the torso or the whole body: shirts, jackets, coats, sweaters, dresses, kimono. It is a る-verb, so the て-form is 着て and the negative 着ない.
寒いのでコートを着ました。
さむいのでコートをきました。
It was cold, so I put on a coat.
あの青いシャツを着ている人は誰ですか。
あのあおいシャツをきているひとはだれですか。
Who is the person wearing that blue shirt?
履く
はく
Use 履く for anything you step into or pull up your legs: shoes, boots, sandals, socks, trousers, jeans, skirts. It is an う-verb: 履いて, 履かない.
玄関で靴を履きます。
げんかんでくつをはきます。
I put my shoes on at the entrance.
今日はスカートを履いています。
きょうはスカートをはいています。
I'm wearing a skirt today.
Sentences where only one works
セーターを着て、ジーンズを履きます。
セーターをきて、ジーンズをはきます。
I put on a sweater and jeans.
One sentence, two verbs — the torso item takes 着る and the leg item takes 履く. That is the whole rule in miniature.
ワンピースを着ます。
ワンピースをきます。
I wear a dress.
A dress covers the torso as well, so it is 着る even though it reaches the legs.
靴下を履いてから靴を履きます。
くつしたをはいてからくつをはきます。
I put on socks and then shoes.
Socks count as footwear, not upper-body clothing — 履く, not 着る.
帽子をかぶって、手袋をはめます。
ぼうしをかぶって、てぶくろをはめます。
I put on a hat and gloves.
The head and hands have verbs of their own, かぶる and はめる. Neither 着る nor 履く reaches them.
Common mistakes
ズボンを着ます。
ズボンを履きます。
English "wear" is a single word, so learners default to 着る for everything. Anything below the waist takes 履く.
靴を着ます。
靴を履きます。
The same error with footwear. If it goes on your feet, it is 履く without exception.
シャツを着ます。 for "I'm wearing a shirt" right now.
シャツを着ています。
着る describes the act of putting something on. For the ongoing state of having it on you need ～ている, and the same applies to 履いている.
Frequently asked questions
What verb do I use for a hat, glasses or a scarf?
Each has its own: 帽子をかぶる, めがねをかける, マフラーをまく. Rings and gloves take はめる, and a watch takes する or つける.
Is 履く sometimes written in kana?
Yes, はく is very common in ordinary writing. You may also see 穿く for trousers and skirts, but it is outside the standard kanji list, so はく or 履く is safer.
How do I say "wear" in general, without naming the item?
身につける covers anything worn on the body, and 着る can stand in loosely when the topic is clothing overall, as in 何を着ていきますか, "what shall I wear?"