おそろい
osoroi
The English phrase "matching" can be translated into Japanese as おそろい (osoroi).
おそろい is used to describe things that are the same, such as people wearing the same outfit or owning the same items. It is often used in a cute or celebratory context, such as when talking about "matching outfits." For specific types of matching, you might use 色合わせ (iroawase) for color matching or 柄合わせ (garaawase) for pattern matching.
Meaning: the same as another, sharing the same design (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
おそろい is a noun that can function as a no-adjective by adding の to describe other nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
osoroi
Did you know?
- While おそろい refers to the state of being matching, the root verb 揃える (soroeru) can mean to line things up neatly in a row, such as shoes at an entrance.
- In Japanese pop culture, おそろい is often linked to ペアルック (pair look), a loanword used specifically for couples who coordinate their outfits to signal their relationship to others.
- The honorific prefix お (o) in おそろい was originally used to show respect, but in modern casual speech, it has become an integral part of the word to add a sense of softness or cuteness.
Examples in context
- トムとジョンは一卵性双生児で、おそろいの服をよく着ています。Tom and John are identical twins and often wear matching clothes.This sentence is useful for describing people, such as identical twins, who often wear matching clothes using おそろい.Tatoeba #11453671 by bunbuku, translation #10625528 by CK
- このシャツとパンツはマッチしているねThis shirt and pants match well, don't they?
- その帽子、君に似合っているよThat hat suits you well
- この靴とバッグはばっちり合っているThese shoes and bag match perfectly
- この靴とバッグはおそろいです。Kono kutsu to baggu wa osoroi desu.These shoes and this bag match.
- 友達とおそろいのキーホルダーを買いました。Tomodachi to osoroi no kihōrudā o kaimashita.I bought matching keychains with my friend.
Example conversation
Two friends notice their accessories are the same at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、蓮さんもそのペンを使っているんですね。A, Ren-san mo sono pen o tsukatte irun desu ne.Oh, Ren, you are using that same pen too.
- 蓮 Renはい、これ、おそろいですね。Hai, kore, osoroi desu ne.Yes, they match, don't they?
- 美咲 Misaki偶然ですね。とても素敵です。Gūzen desu ne. Totemo suteki desu.What a coincidence. They are very nice.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries おそろい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
