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While I see 衣類 and 衣服 as more general concepts in comparison to 服, I am very
unsure of the difference between them.

What situations explicitly call for one over the other? In what situations are
both or all three acceptable?
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2014-05-14T09:11:04.137
15939
2016-05-13T06:32:37.060
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question
word-choice
What are the differences between 衣類, 衣服 and 服
Shogakukan's J-J _Ruigo Reikai Thesaurus Dictionary_ has this to say about
usage differences for **衣服** and **衣類**.

  * 「衣服」は、主に外側に着る上着、ズボン、羽織の類についていう。  
_Ifuku_ refers mostly to things like overcoats, trousers, and _haori_ worn as
outerwear.

  * 「衣類」は、帯、靴下、肌着などまで含めて体に着けるものすべてに対する総称。  
_Irui_ is a more general term that refers to all things that can be worn on
the body, including _obi_ , socks, and underwear.

Just plain old **服** isn't included in the same thesaurus entry, appearing
instead under the entry for 洋服 ("western clothes"). Notably, 服 here in the
thesaurus is glossed as "a dress" rather than "clothes", and the brief
Japanese definition given in the thesaurus as common to both 洋服 and 服 states:

  * 和服に対して、西洋風の衣服。  
Contrasting with traditional Japanese clothing, western-style outerwear.

The JA-JA dictionary I have says:

  1. ころも。着物。衣服。  
Robes. Kimono. Outerwear.

  2. 「洋服」の略。  
Short for "western clothing".

As a further data point, the usage examples in Shogakukan's _Progressive
Japanese-English Dictionary_ entry for 服 almost all suggest that 服 may imply
more of a set outfit. Here are a few excerpted examples (emphasis mine):

  * 戦闘服の兵士たち soldiers in battle **dress**
  * 道化師の服 a clown's **costume**
  * 結婚式の服〔男性の〕 a wedding **suit** / 〔女性の〕 a wedding **dress**
  * 警察官の服 a policeman's **uniform**
  * 彼は紺の服が似合う The navy blue **suit** becomes him.

**服装** meanwhile has its own thesaurus entry, but the section about usage
discusses only 装い in detail. The English gloss for 服装 is given as "dress;
costume", while the brief Japanese definition states:

  * 衣服およびその装飾品などを身につけた姿。  
Appearance when wearing outerwear and other accessories.
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2014-05-14T18:46:08.147
15944
2014-05-14T18:46:08.147
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answer