Readings: フク (Onyomi), – (Kunyomi)
Meaning: clothes, obey, wear, administer (medicine)
The character 服 is composed of 月 (flesh/body, referring to a person) and 𠬝 (pronunciation component, representing kneeling and serving). It originally meant ‘to serve’ or ‘to obey’, then extended to ‘to wear clothes’ as clothing serves to cover the body, and later to ‘clothes’ themselves. It also carries the meaning of administering (e.g., medicine) and submitting.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 服 has 8 strokes. It is written from top to bottom, left to right. Pay attention to the order of the radical on the left (月) and the right component (𠬝).
Kanji Details
| Radical | 月 (つきへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- フク (Fuku)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- – (-)
Common Words Using 服
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 洋服 | ようふく | Western clothes |
| 制服 | せいふく | uniform |
| 衣服 | いふく | clothes, garments |
| 和服 | わふく | Japanese clothes |
| 私服 | しふく | plain clothes, civilian clothes |
| 服薬 | ふくやく | taking medicine |
| 軍服 | ぐんぷく | military uniform |
| 喪服 | もふく | mourning dress |
| 夏服 | なつふく | summer clothes |
| 冬服 | ふゆふく | winter clothes |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 服する | ふくする | to obey, to take (medicine) – Note: Direct common kunyomi words for “clothes” using 服 are rare; it is predominantly used in Onyomi compounds for clothing-related terms. |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この洋服は私のお気に入りです。
Kana: このようふくはわたしのおきにいりです。
Romaji: Kono yōfuku wa watashi no okiniiri desu.
English: These Western clothes are my favorite.
Japanese: 生徒たちは学校の制服を着ています。
Kana: せいとたちはがっこうのせいふくをきています。
Romaji: Seito-tachi wa gakkō no seifuku o kiteimasu.
English: The students are wearing their school uniforms.
Japanese: 彼女はパーティーで美しい和服を着ていました。
Kana: かのじょはパーティーでうつくしいわふくをきていました。
Romaji: Kanojo wa pātī de utsukushii wafuku o kiteimashita.
English: She was wearing a beautiful kimono at the party.
Japanese: 新しい衣服を買うのが好きです。
Kana: あたらしいいふくをかうのがすきです。
Romaji: Atarashii ifuku o kau no ga suki desu.
English: I like buying new clothes.
Japanese: 彼は普段、私服で出勤します。
Kana: かれはふだん、しふくでしゅっきんします。
Romaji: Kare wa fudan, shifuku de shukkin shimasu.
English: He usually goes to work in plain clothes.
Japanese: この薬は食後に服薬してください。
Kana: このくすりはしょくごにふくやくしてください。
Romaji: Kono kusuri wa shokugo ni fukuyaku shite kudasai.
English: Please take this medicine after meals.
Japanese: 夏服を準備する時期が来ました。
Kana: なつふくをじゅんびするじきがきました。
Romaji: Natsufuku o junbi suru jiki ga kimashita.
English: It’s time to prepare summer clothes.
Japanese: 冬服は暖かくて快適です。
Kana: ふゆふくはあたたかくてかいてきです。
Romaji: Fuyufuku wa atatakakute kaiteki desu.
English: Winter clothes are warm and comfortable.
Japanese: 博物館には古い軍服が展示されていました。
Kana: はくぶつかんにはふるいぐんぷくがてんじされていました。
Romaji: Hakubutsukan ni wa furui gunpuku ga tenji sareteimashita.
English: Old military uniforms were on display at the museum.
Japanese: 彼女は祖母の葬儀で喪服を着ていました。
Kana: かのじょはそぼのそうぎでもふくをきていました。
Romaji: Kanojo wa sobo no sōgi de mofuku o kiteimashita.
English: She was wearing mourning clothes at her grandmother’s funeral.
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