制服
seifuku[se̞ːɸɯ̟̊kɯ̟]
The English phrase "school uniform" can be translated into Japanese as 制服 (seifuku) or 学生服.
Meaning: uniform items to be worn by students in a school (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 制服 | seifuku | [se̞ːɸɯ̟̊kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 学生服 | gakusei-fuku | [ɡa̠kɯ̟̊se̞ːɸɯ̟̊kɯ̟] (narrow) |
Both terms refer to the uniform items worn by students in a school. In daily conversation, 制服 is the most common way to refer to a school uniform.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 制服 is composed of 制 (regulation/control) and 服 (clothing). The term 学生服 is composed of 学生 (student) and 服 (clothing).
Which one should you use?
While both terms can mean school uniform, 制服 is a more general term for any uniform, such as those worn by police or flight attendants. In contrast, 学生服 specifically refers to student clothing.
How do you pronounce it?
seifuku
Did you know?
- The seifuku style known as the 'sailor suit' was originally based on the uniforms of the British Royal Navy, adopted by Japanese girls' schools in the 1920s.
- The term seifuku is used for the uniforms of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, meaning the same word covers both teenagers and the military.
- In Japanese pop culture, seifuku is often used as a shorthand to refer to the specific 'schoolgirl' archetype rather than just the clothing itself.
Examples in context
- 制服はあるの？Do you have a school uniform?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has a 制服.Tatoeba #143310 by small_snow, translation #271257 by CK
- 学生服を着ろ。Put on your school uniform.This sentence is useful for telling someone to put on their 学生服.Tatoeba #9035012 by small_snow, translation #9035000 by CK
- 制服を脱ぎなさい。Take off your school uniform.This sentence is useful for telling someone to take off their 制服.Tatoeba #9034995 by small_snow, translation #9034991 by CK
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are talking about their high school days.
- 健太 Kenta美咲の高校の制服はどんな感じだった？Misaki no koukou no seifuku wa donna kanji datta?What was Misaki's high school uniform like?
- 美咲 Misaki紺色のブレザーで、とても可愛かったよ。Konjiiro no burezaa de, totemo kawaikatta yo.It was a navy blue blazer, and it was very cute.
- 健太 Kentaいいなあ。僕の制服は地味だった。Ii naa. Boku no seifuku wa jimi datta.That sounds nice. My uniform was plain.
- 美咲 Misakiでも、健太に似合っていたと思うよ。Demo, Kenta ni niatte ita to omou yo.But I think it suited you, Kenta.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “school uniform” translations and entries 制服, 学生服, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
