履く To Put On Shoes

Meaning

Primary

To Put On Shoes

Alternatives

To Put On Pants, To Put On A Skirt

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

The kanji itself means footwear, but this word is a verb. So what do you do with footwear, usually? You put it on! That's why this word is to put on shoes. Or to put on pants, or to put on a skirt…

Okay, pants and skirts aren't exactly footwear. But 履く is basically used for any garment you wear from the waist down, including socks, shoes, boots, pants, skirts, shorts, and even underpants.

Reading

はく

Explanation

履く uses a kun'yomi reading you haven't seen before, so here's a mnemonic:

After you successfully manage to put on shoes, you exclaim, "Hah (は)! I knew I could do it!" Everyone doubted you could put on your shoes, but you did it — you really showed them. Hah! Now, the question is… will you be able to put on pants?

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 〜を履く

  靴を履く

  to put on shoes

  靴下を履く

  to put on socks

  スカートを履く

  to put on a skirt

  ズボンを履く

  to put on trousers

  ストッキングを履く

  to put on pantyhose

Context Sentences

ズボンを履く時って、いつもジャンプしながら履くよね？

When you put on your pants, you always jump around, don't you?

まだパンツ履いてないの？早くしなさい！

You haven't put your underwear on yet? Hurry up!

靴下を履かずにスニーカーを履かないで！スニーカーが臭くなるって何度言ったら分かるの？

Don't wear sneakers without wearing socks! The sneakers will smell. How many times do I have to tell you?

スタッドレスタイヤへの履き替えは、初雪が降る1ヶ月前ぐらいがいいそうです。まぁ、うちはいつも初雪の予報を見て、あわててスタッドレスを履くんですけどね。

Apparently, snow tires are best put on about a month before the first snowfall. That said, we usually wait until we see the first snow forecast, then put them on in a panic.

Kanji Composition

1. 履

   り Footwear