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I've been introduced to 着る (for things you put on like a shirt) and 履く (for
things you put on like pants) in class, but is there a general way to just say
something like `wear clothes`? Or must the "method" of putting on be
specified?
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2012-03-09T01:43:39.473
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2020-06-26T16:52:24.663
2020-06-26T16:52:24.663
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translation verbs word-requests
Is there a general/default word for "to wear"?
Yes, there is a general word:

> 身に着ける

So, you can say:

> 帽子を身に着ける  
>  服を身に着ける  
>  ズボンを身に着ける

However, in daily conversation it is more common to say `着る` or `履く`. Also,
`身につける` can mean something different like `知識を身につける`.

Or, after rereading your question, it looks like you don't want to specify
what you are wearing. In that case, the other answer is correct.
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2012-03-09T02:19:34.030
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2012-03-09T14:23:40.660
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> Or must the "method" of putting on be specified?

This might not be exactly what you're asking, but in Japanese, all the verbs
for putting something on, like 着る, 履く or 身につける, are change-of-state verbal
phrases, i.e. in their base form, they mean "put on", not "wear".

In order to express "wear" you have to express the resulting state, which is
done by ～ている (でいる)

> シャツを着る put on a shirt → シャツを着ている wear a shirt

etc.
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2012-03-09T07:48:43.233
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A more formal and concise term would be 着用する

```

    帽子を着用
    服を着用
    ズボンを着用
    
```
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2012-03-15T19:48:55.653
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To express wearing clothes, various verbs are used.

General words like 身【み】に着【つ】ける or 着用【ちゃくよう】する has meaning of to wear something
on one's body. Not only clothes but including anything carried/held by oneself
such as intelligence, technology, skill, medal, armband, good-luck charm,
pistol, helmet, armor, etc.

Kanji 着 had original meaning of "to attach/touch/contact" in Chinese. It was
assigned to Japanese indigenous word きる (to wear) so that 着【き】る was resulted.

Specific words are as below.

  * 着る： to wear clothes to cover upper or whole body
  * 被【かぶ】る： to wear something to cover head or face
  * かける： to make object in state of 被る with something
  * 穿【は】く： to wear clothes to cover lower body
  * 履【は】く： to wear something on foot, such as footwear

Usually セーターを着る indicates action of putting one's head or shoulder into
clothes and pull it down, while ズボンを穿く indicates action of putting foot into
clothes and pull it up. Therefore, 着る has sense of wearing from top down and
穿く has from bottom up. Certainly, exceptions may occur.

As a matter of fact, kanji 穿 is also used for another verb 穿【うが】つ meaning of
which is dig/drill/bore. My impression is that wearing trousers could be felt
similarity of drilling/boring. I'm wondering whether ancient people had same
feeling to assign this kanji to 穿【は】く.
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2019-01-23T11:09:09.423
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