Translation and Meaning of: 着 - chaku

The Japanese word 着[ちゃく] is a versatile term frequently used in everyday life in Japan. Its primary meaning is related to the act of wearing or putting on clothes, but it can also indicate arrival or connection in certain contexts. In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and most common uses of this word, along with tips for memorizing it effectively.

If you are learning Japanese, you may have encountered 着 in different situations, whether in store advertisements, indications of train stations, or even in dialogues from animes. Here at Suki Nihongo, we aim to provide clear and practical explanations so that you can master the language with confidence. Shall we get started?

Meaning and uses of 着[ちゃく]

The word 着[ちゃく] has two main meanings. The first is related to the act of wearing clothes, as in 着物[きもの] (kimono) or 試着[しちゃく] (trying on clothes). The second meaning refers to arrivals or connections, as in 到着[とうちゃく] (arrival) or 乗り換え駅に着く[のりかええきにつく] (arrive at the transfer station).

In everyday life, it is common to see this word in department stores, where it reads 試着室[しちゃくしつ] (fitting room). It also appears in train announcements, such as 終点に着きました[しゅうてんにつきました] (we have arrived at the final destination). This duality of meanings makes 着 a very useful word for those studying Japanese.

Origin and writing of the kanji 着

The kanji 着 is composed of the radical 目 (eye) at the top and 羊 (sheep) at the bottom. Originally, it represented the idea of "looking at the sheep," but its meaning evolved to "to wear" or "to arrive." This transformation occurred due to metaphorical use in ancient Chinese, which directly influenced Japanese.

In modern writing, 着 is one of the most frequent kanjis at the N4 level of the JLPT. Its kun'yomi readings are き (ki) or つ (tsu), while the on'yomi reading is チャク (chaku). Memorizing these readings may be easier if we associate 着物[きもの] (traditional clothing) and 到着[とうちゃく] (arrival), two common words that use different readings of the same kanji.

Tips for memorizing and using 着 correctly

An effective way to fix the meaning of 着 is to create mental associations. For example, imagine someone wearing a kimono (着物) while getting off a train that has just arrived (到着). This image combines the two main meanings of the word in a single visual context, making it easier to memorize.

Another tip is to practice with everyday phrases, such as この服を着てみたい (I want to try on this outfit) or 何時に駅に着きますか (What time do you arrive at the station?). Using apps like Anki with cards that include images and real-life examples can also speed up learning. Remember: spaced repetition is a great ally in studying Japanese vocabulary.

Curiosities about 着 in Japanese culture

In Japan, the word 着 has a special meaning when related to traditions. The 着物, for example, is not just a garment but a cultural symbol that varies according to the occasion, age, and social status. Knowing how to use the term correctly demonstrates respect for the local culture.

It's interesting to note that, although 着 is common in formal contexts, it also appears in informal situations. Young people use 着る[きる] (to wear) in their daily lives, while the elderly may prefer お召しになる[おめしになる], a more polite form. This variation shows how a simple word can reflect different levels of formality in Japanese society.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 着用 (chakuyou) - Use or wear a piece of clothing.
• 着る (kiru) - Wear, put on a piece of clothing.
• 着こなす (kinanasu) - Dressing well, wearing stylish clothing.
• 着せる (kiseru) - Put clothing on someone or on an object.
• 着替える (kigaeru) - Change clothes, alter the outfit.
• 着手する (chakushu suru) - Start or begin a job or task.
• 着陸する (chakuriku suru) - Land, like a plane touching the ground.
• 着火する (chakka suru) - Light the fire.

着

Romaji: chaku
Kana: ちゃく
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: clothes counter; getting at ..

Meaning in English: counter for suits of clothing;arriving at ..

Definition: Dress up. Put it on and leave.

Example Sentences - (着) chaku

See below some example sentences:

澄んだ空気が心を落ち着かせる。

Sumunda kūki ga kokoro o ochitsukaseru

The clean air calms the mind

• 澄んだ (Sumunda) - clear, clean
• 空気 (kūki) - I'm sorry, but there seems to be no text provided for translation. Please share the content you'd like translated from Portuguese to English.
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 心 (kokoro) - mind, heart
• を (o) - direct object particle
• 落ち着かせる (ochitsukaseru) - calm down

粋な着物を着ている。

Iki na kimono o kite iru

I am wearing an elegant kimono.

I am wearing an elegant kimono.

• 粋 (いき) - elegant, refined
• 着物 (きもの) - kimono, traditional Japanese clothing
• 着ている (きている) - is wearing

サイズが合わない服は着られません。

Saizu ga awanai fuku wa kiraremasen

Roupas que não servem não podem ser usadas.

You cannot wear clothes that do not fit the size.

• サイズ (saizu) - Size
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 合わない (awanai) - does not fit
• 服 (fuku) - clothes
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 着られません (kiraremasen) - cannot be worn

釣鐘の音色は心を落ち着かせる。

Chou shou no neiro wa kokoro wo ochitsukaseru

The sound of the temple bell soothes the heart.

The tone of the bell soothes the heart.

• 釣鐘 - fishing bell
• の - Possession particle
• 音色 - timbre, sound
• は - Topic particle
• 心 - heart, mind
• を - direct object particle
• 落ち着かせる - calm, soothe

茶色は落ち着いた色合いです。

Chairo wa ochitsuita iroai desu

The color brown is a calm shade.

Brown is a calm tone.

• 茶色 - brown color
• は - Topic particle
• 落ち着いた - Calm, peaceful
• 色合い - tone, hue, shade
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

終点に到着しました。

Shūten ni tōchaku shimashita

We arrived at the end point.

I have reached the end point.

• 終点 (shūten) - It means "end point" or "final destination".
• に (ni) - It is a particle that indicates the location where something happens.
• 到着 (tōchaku) - It means "arrival" or "disembarkation".
• しました (shimashita) - It is the past form of the verb "fazer" or "realizar". In this case, it indicates that the action of reaching the final point has already been completed.

私たちは明日朝早く着く予定です。

Watashitachi wa ashita asa hayaku tsuku yotei desu

We have plans to arrive early tomorrow morning.

We will arrive early tomorrow morning.

• 私たちは - We
• 明日 - Tomorrow
• 朝 - Morning
• 早く - early
• 着く - to arrive
• 予定 - Planned
• です - and

私は自分で着物を仕立てました。

Watashi wa jibun de kimono o shitaterimashita

I made my own kimono.

I made my own kimono.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 自分 (jibun) - means "myself" or "yourself"
• で (de) - particle that indicates the means or method used to perform the action, in this case "by oneself"
• 着物 (kimono) - traditional Japanese clothing
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case "kimono"
• 仕立てました (shitatemasu) - verb that means "to make" or "to create," in the affirmative past tense

着席してください。

Chakuseki shite kudasai

Please sit down.

Please sit down.

• 着席 - It means "to sit" in Japanese.
• して - is a form of the verb "to do" in Japanese.
• ください - is a polite way of asking for something in Japanese, equivalent to "please" in Portuguese.

着陸に成功しました。

Chakuriku ni seikou shimashita

We landed successfully.

I managed to land.

• 着陸 (chakuriku) - landing
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target or destination of the action
• 成功 (seikou) - success
• しました (shimashita) - polite and past form of the verb "suru" (to do)