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Are all sandals called geta? Or are geta a subset of sandals. How about flip-
flops? How are these types of footware distinguished in Japanese?

My dictionary says sandal is just せんだる.
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2020-08-03T20:00:41.817
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2020-08-07T07:40:51.410
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question
word-usage
Sandals vs. geta
げた refer to traditional wooden sandals similar to how きもの refers specifically
to traditional Japanese clothing. Sandals (サンダル）to me just mean open foot
shoes and so Geta would be a type of sandals.

I think most flip-flops (slippers) would just be called スリッパ.
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2020-08-03T20:45:11.113
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Most traditional style footwears in Japan would fall under the definition of
_sandal_ in English (which is no wonder considering the climate), but we have
different names for each. If I had to name an umbrella term, it'd be just はきもの
"footwear".

げた is the name for traditional wooden platform sandals for town walk. Because
of its typical usage, we still call _shoebox_ げたばこ "geta box" as a custom, but
it does not mean げた is the hypernym of shoes and sandals and that like.

サンダル is the general term for all non-Japanese (outdoor) sandals and almost
identical to what you imagine from _sandals_ in this extent. Flip-flops
(plastic sandals with thongs) is usually called
[ビーチサンダル](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%93%E3%83%BC%E3%83%81%E3%82%B5%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%AB)
in Japan.
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2020-08-07T07:40:51.410
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2020-08-07T07:40:51.410
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answer