スーツ
sūtsu[sɨːt͡sɨ]
The English word 'suit' can be translated into Japanese as スーツ (sūtsu). Wiktionary also lists 洋服 (yōfuku).
Meaning: set of clothes (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| スーツ | sūtsu | [sɨːt͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 洋服 | yōfuku | [jo̞ːɸɯ̟̊kɯ̟] (narrow) |
スーツ is the standard term used when discussing business attire in a professional Japanese context. It refers specifically to a Western-style business suit.
Which one should you use?
スーツ is a loanword that specifically refers to a Western-style business suit. In contrast, 洋服 is a much broader term meaning Western-style clothes in general, used to distinguish any such clothing from traditional Japanese clothing (和服).
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
sūtsu
Did you know?
- In some professional contexts, the term クールビズ 'Cool Biz' refers to a government-led campaign allowing men to wear a スーツ without a tie or jacket during summer.
- In Japanese corporate culture, a リクルートスーツ 'recruit suit' is a specific, plain black style that students must wear during job hunts to avoid standing out.
- During the Meiji era, the adoption of the スーツ was a political statement symbolizing Japan's modernization and move toward global diplomacy.
Examples in context
- どこでスーツを作ったの？Where did you have your suit made?This sentence is useful for asking about the origin of a スーツ.Tatoeba #200996 by bunbuku, translation #38201 by CK
- そのスーツは高そうだな。That suit looks expensive.This sentence is useful for describing the appearance of a スーツ.Tatoeba #10655720 by small_snow, translation #4426346 by AlanF_US
- ツーパンツスーツを買った。I bought a suit with two pairs of pants.This sentence is useful for mentioning the purchase of a specific type of スーツ.Tatoeba #8703719 by small_snow, translation #2796772 by sharptoothed
- 64 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A woman is helping a man prepare for a job interview.
- 陽葵 Himari新しいスーツは、もう用意できた？Atarashii suutsu wa, mou youi dekita?Have you prepared your new suit yet?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、このスーツを着る予定だよ。Un, kono suutsu o kiru yotei da yo.Yeah, I plan to wear this suit.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔、そのスーツはとても似合っているよ。Hiroto, sono suutsu wa totemo niatte iru yo.Hiroto, that suit suits you very well.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとう、自信が出てきたよ。Arigatou, jishin ga detekita yo.Thanks, I'm feeling more confident now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “suit” translations and entries スーツ, 洋服, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
